Budget gridlock takes hold: hospitals, clinics, schools, community colleges, local governments go without state funding; State employees, firefighters, police face lay offs
Sacramento - According to a new poll by Service Employee International Union California State Council, 65 percent of California Republican Voters say GOP Legislators should work with Democrats to achieve a practical compromise to produce a balanced budget - including raising taxes. Just 29 percent of those surveyed agree GOP Legislators should resist any tax increase even if it means gridlock.
California's State Legislature is four weeks overdue in passing this year's state budget.
"Without state funding, our communities and workers are being held hostage by budget gridlock," said SEIU California State Council President Annelle Grajeda. "Democrats have put a compromise budget on the table. It is time for our leaders in Sacramento to put partisan politics aside and work together to pass a responsible, balanced budget that gets California moving again. Our poll shows Republican voters support compromise; it's time for Legislators to listen."
Budget Gridlock Takes Hold
The State's $2 billion reserve fund for community health clinics and small hospitals ran out of money earlier this week, July 28. Schools, community colleges and local governments, which typically receive a significant portion of their funding at the end of this month, will not because there is no state budget. In addition, Governor Schwarzenegger threatened to sign an Executive Order this week which would lay off thousands and force another nearly 200,000 state workers (including police, firefighters, special education teachers) to work for $6.55 an hour - well under the poverty level for a California family of four.
SEIU Survey Details
SEIU California State Council, the largest advocacy organization in California, conducted a survey of 800 registered California Republicans June 5 through June 9. The poll showed 85 percent of Republican voters say the budget deficit has them concerned and 62 percent say they think Republican Legislators should work with Democrats to achieve a compromise including budget cuts and revenue increases.
A majority of Republican voters who participated in this poll expressed support for increasing revenues through taxes:
- 54 percent support increasing the top bracket of the state income taxes from 9.3 to 10 percent for families with taxable income over $272,000 annually and to 11 percent for families with more than $544,000 a year in taxable income.
54 percent support closing the loophole that allows corporations to avoid reassessment of the value of new property they purchase.
56 percent support the sales tax to entertainment such as concerts and sporting events.
64 percent support a bill to prevent people who purchase yachts and luxury vehicles from avoiding sales taxes on these purchases.
Half of the participants were told "Democrats, who make up about 60 percent of the legislature, say they will never approve spending cuts and Republicans, who make up about 40 percent of the legislature, say they will never approve raising taxes. Neither side has the two-thirds votes necessary to pass the budget." When asked what respondents think legislators should do, an overwhelming 71 percent said both sides should work out a practical compromise of cuts and tax increases without gimmicks and more borrowing.
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SEIU is the largest union in California. Made up of more than 700,000 health care professionals, public service providers and service workers, dedicated to protecting and strengthening California's communities.