ARCHIVES

MAY 2011

Thanks to all who helped make our 2011 fundraiser a sold-out success!  From the Chico Pioneer Days Parade in the morning to the festivities of the evening at Canyon Oaks Country Club, a great time was had by all.  We will be posting photos of both events in the days ahead on this site and on our facebook page as well.  In the meantime, please visit the site of our official pirate photographer, Carter Groth, to check out his many excellent shots – both posed and candid.  His photos are available for purchase at very reasonable rates: http://www.roadstump.com/piratepalooza/

MARCH 2011

Disability, health and human service advocates are in a virtual state of shock following the total collapse of state budget negotiations on March 29.  Governor Brown abruptly cancelled budget talks in response to 53 new Republican-caucus demands for their support of his budget plan.  One item, the so-called “single sales factor,” allows out-of-state companies to choose a lower tax rate in California.  Brown called it a “billion-dollar tax break to giant companies that keep jobs out of California.”  Meanwhile, north state Senator Doug LaMalfa described the Republican view of the conflict in biblical terms, saying, “If an Armageddon budget is what it takes to wake up people to demand reform of this Legislature … then maybe that’s the attention-getter it takes.”  All rhetoric aside, what this means is the Governor’s plan to eliminate the budget shortfall (by combining $12.5 Billion in cuts with $12.5 Billion in voter-approved revenue) is now dead.  It could also mean an additional $12.5 Billion in state budget cuts for next year.  Public schools at all levels would face billions of dollars in new cuts.  For example, Chico State University President, Paul Zingg, estimates that the university would lose $42 Million!  And as we so painfully know … disability, health and human service programs are always popular targets for budget-cutting politicians.  Advocates are re-grouping and will begin rolling out new plans beginning the week of April 4th.  Stay tuned for a response by the Northern California State Budget Alliance.  Get ready for action because this mess just got a lot nastier!