Unveils $1M Advertising Campaign:
CTA and its Education Coalition partners told reporters at a June 9 news conference in the shadow of Washington Elementary School in Sacramento that they want lawmakers to quit their partisan wrangling and quickly approve a state budget that prevents any further devastating cuts in public education funding.
At the news conference, Coalition representatives also unveiled two hard-hitting radio spots that are being aired in key media markets to deliver a simple message to lawmakers: don't fail our kids, pass the state budget on time.
The Coalition is spending $1 million to air the commercials that are aimed at encouraging the Legislature to approve the Governor's May Revision of the state budget prior to the June 15 constitutional deadline. The Governor is required to review and sign the plan the legislature sends him prior to the July 1 start of the new fiscal year.
This year, the budget has been stalled by inter-party disputes over issues including the proposed temporary half-cent sales tax increase that would help bridge a budget gap currently pegged at $38.2 billion. In particular, leaders of the Assembly and Senate Republican caucuses have stated their members will not provide the votes needed to provide the mandatory two-thirds vote to a budget bill that includes a tax increase.
"Partisan bickering only hurts our children and jeopardizes our schools," says Ann Desmond, a parent advocate and member of the California State PTA. "Our message is a simple one: don't fail our kids! Pass the budget on time!"
One radio spot features CTA President Wayne Johnson, who recounts, "In recent months, school funding has been cut by $4 billion. This has already meant teacher layoffs and larger classes. It threatens the progress our schools have made.
"Now a plan has been offered to balance the budget yet prevent even deeper cuts in classroom spending. This plan includes carefully targeted spending cuts with a small increase in the sales tax, keeping cuts away from the classroom and protecting other vital programs," the CTA leader continues.
The second radio spot features a man and woman talking about the budget crisis and the need to pass the Education Coalition supported state budget on time in order to prevent further cuts to schools. The third radio spot features a mother and son talking, with the mom noting that politicians are fighting and the budget might not be done on time. "You know what happens if I turn my work in late," the son asks. "I flunk."
The Education Coalition includes CTA, the Association of California School Administrators, the California Association of School Business Officials, the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association, the California Federation of Teachers (AFT-AFL-CIO), the California School Boards Association, the California School Employees Association, the California State PTA, and the Service Employees International Union, AFL-CIO.
This year, not only is the state facing a deficit of unprecedented proportions, but it is also facing the real possibility of running out of money, if the budget battle goes on into September. A court decision has complicated matters, making it more difficult for state officials to pay bills without a new budget in place.
Even though the state constitution requires lawmakers to send the governor a budget by June 15, there are no penalties in law for missing the deadline. CTA is working with the Service Employees International Union in an effort to put a measure on the ballot - The Budget Accountability Act - that would reduce the salaries of public officials when the budget deadline is missed. The initiative, if approved by the voters, would also reduce to 55% the majority vote needed in both houses to approve a state budget. Current law requires a 66-2/3 supermajority. CTA's State Council of Education has voted to support the ballot measure.
CTA Members:
Continue contacting your state Senators and Assembly Members. Urge them to approve quickly the Governor's revised proposal that balances the budget and prevents even deeper cuts in classroom spending.