FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sacramento – Leaders of the Alliance for a Better California, the coalition that has worked to oppose Governor Schwarzenegger’s damaging agenda since his State of the State Address in January, today congratulated the voters of California for overwhelmingly rejecting the bad ideas on the Special Election ballot by voting NO on Props. 74, 75, 76, 77 & 78.
“The voters of California tonight sent the Governor a mandate: Your agenda is not right for California,” said Barbara Kerr, President of the California Teachers Association. “The real winners tonight are the students of California. By rejecting these initiatives, California voters proved once again that improving public education and providing funding to our schools remains their top priority. It’s time for the Governor to keep his promises to our students and help teachers by giving our schools the resources they need so all children can succeed.”
The Alliance for a Better California includes: American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); Association of California School Administrators (ACSA); California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA); California Faculty Association (CFA); California Federation of Teachers (CFT); California Labor Federation; California Professional Firefighters (CPF); California School Employees Association (CSEA); California Teachers Association (CTA); Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC); Service Employees International Union (SEIU); SEIU Local 1000; Minorities in Law Enforcement.
“The voters of California stood by the state’s teachers, firefighters, nurses and police officers and overwhelmingly opposed an agenda that would hurt California’s families,” said Lou Paulson, President of the California Professional Firefighters. “Voters said NO to cuts in public safety and YES to real accountability.”
“The Governor asked voters to choose sides, and they chose to stand with teachers, correctional officers, nurses, firefighters and all the other public workers who serve and protect and care for the people of this great state,” said Mike Jimenez, president of the California Correctional Peace Officers Association. “These are people who do difficult and important work, who make a difference in the daily lives of Californians. The Governor asked voters to punish these everyday heroes, and they said 'no' very clearly and very loudly — and for that, we're very grateful.”
“Governor Schwarzenegger, on behalf of his corporate donors, wasted all of his political capital and $50 million dollars for an election that did nothing except attack nurses, teachers, firefighters, and peace officers,” said Deborah Burger, President of the California Nurses Association (CNA). “There has to be genuine reform, which for CNA means taking all money out of politics, closing corporate tax loopholes and establishing a single-payer universal health care system.”