Contact: Mike Myslinski, communications consultant, 408-921-5769 (cell)
BURLINGAME – Dean E. Vogel, president of the 325,000-member California Teachers Association, released this statement regarding support for the governor’s tax initiative and the unintended consequences of the proposed Millionaire’s Tax initiative.
“Despite a catchy title that certainly has some appeal, the Millionaire’s Tax initiative has some unintended consequences that will only make matters worse for funding public education and essential public services in California. The governor’s initiative is the only proposal that will help close the current budget deficit, restore funding to education, and pay for services shifted to local cities and counties. Without the governor’s fair-share tax on the wealthy, the state is facing a $12 billion to $13 billion shortfall over the next 18 months, and more cuts to schools and colleges.
“CTA is equally concerned that all the research shows that having three funding initiatives confuses voters and weakens support for raising the revenues our students, schools and communities desperately need. It’s time for everyone to come together and support the only initiative that is designed to put our state back on the road to recovery. Governor Brown’s initiative will do just that. His proposal to tax the wealthy has the support of CTA and other labor, community and business groups, which is the type of widespread support it is going to take to pass any funding initiative. Unless we all get behind this initiative, everyone loses.”
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The 325,000-member CTA is affiliated with the 3.2 million-member National Education Association.