Campaign Update
Friday, March 7, 2008

Potentially Devastating Budget Decisions Loom --
Legislature to Weigh In on Kids' Health

Governor Schwarzenegger's 2008/09 budget proposal runs contrary to his commitments to children's health. The 2008/09 proposals would result in more than 350,000 children losing health coverage, bringing the total number of California's uninsured children to more than one million.

For more information on the devastating impacts of the Governor's budget proposals, please see these budget factsheets:

• Proposed State Budget Jeopardizes Health Coverage for 350,000 Children
• Quarterly Status Reporting: Governor's Proposed Red Tape Would Cost 300,000 Children Their Health Insurance
• Increased Premiums and Co-payments Would Put Health Insurance Out of Reach for Many Low-Income Children
• Proposed Cuts to Medi-Cal Administrative Budgets Would Limit Children's Access to Care
• Low Payments to Medi-Cal & Healthy Families Providers = Inadequate Health Care Access for Children

Even in difficult budget times, there are cost-effective proposals to support children's coverage. For more information, please see these factsheets:

• SB 437 is Smart Medicine for California's Children and the State's Bottom Line
• Filling California's Budget Deficit: Federal Economic Stimulus Proposals for State Relief Could Help

The Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) submitted an alternative plan for closing the $16.5 billion budget deficit that rejects many of the Governor's harmful proposals. The LAO also recommends closing $2.7 billion in tax loopholes. For more information, please see the LAO's Analysis of the 2008-09 Budget Bill.

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD on these dangerous budget proposals. Contact the State Senate and Assembly Budget Committees early and often. Take three minutes NOW to personalize and send this sample letter to your Legislature.

STAY TUNED. We will keep you up-to-date as the Legislature debates the budget over the coming months. There will be many opportunities to let your elected officials know that they must not balance the state's budget by cutting essential health care from our most vulnerable children.

For more information, please contact Krystal Moreno Lee at klee@childrennow.org or 916-443-1680.

The 100% Campaign, a collaborative effort of The Children's Partnership, Children Now and Children's Defense Fund, was created to ensure that all of California's children obtain the health insurance they need to grow up strong and healthy.
www.100percentcampaign.org

The PICO California Project is the united effort of 20 California congregation-community organizations affiliated with the PICO National Network. Collectively, we represent 350 congregations and 400,000 families statewide and are actively organizing in over 70 cities in Northern and Southern California.
www.picocalifornia.org