This article originally appeared in the January-February 2008 issue of the Children's Advocate, published by Action Alliance for Children.

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Children's Advocates Roundtable

On the ballot February 5

Along with the presidential primary elections February 5, several measures will be on the ballot, including

Prop. 92: Community college funding

This initiative would amend the state constitution to

• lower community college fees to $15 per unit and control future increases

• guarantee that 10.46% of the school funding required by Proposition 98 would be spent on community colleges

This measure would increase funding to community colleges, according to the Legislative Analyst—by $479 million by 2009-10.

Supporters say

“Community colleges are our best hope for ending poverty,” says Nicky Gonzalez-Yuen, a community college teacher and board member. “A student who graduates from a community college (on average) raises their income in three years from $25,000 to $47,000 a year. But our per-student funding level is near the bottom—45th or 47th in the nation.”

“Community college is the entry point for most people who go into early childhood education,” adds Sandra Weese of the California Federation of Teachers. “And keeping fees affordable makes it more likely that people already in the field will continue their education.”

And, Gonzalez-Yuen points out, “for every dollar we spend putting someone through college, we get back $3.50 in savings and revenue.” So funding community colleges increases state funds available for other programs.

Supporters: California Federation of Teachers, California Labor Federation, National Latino Congreso, Community College League of California. 916-444-8897, www.prop92yes.com

Opponents say

“We fully agree that our community colleges need our support,” says Mike Myslinski, of the California Teacher Association. “However Prop. 92 is flawed and is not the way to go.” Opponents argue that:

• Prop. 92 guarantees more funds to community colleges with no new source of income. This could mean cuts to K-12 schools and state universities—especially at a time of state budget deficits. “Helping one public education system at the expense . . . of others is unacceptable,” says Lillian Taiz, president of the California Faculty Association.

• Prop. 92 contains no requirements for how community colleges should spend the funds and adds no new financial controls.

Opponents: California Teachers Association, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, California Business Roundtable, League of Women Voters of California. 916-218-6640, www.noprop92.org

Prop. 93: Changes to term limits

Prop. 93 would change the rules about how long people can serve in the state legislature. The current limits are six years in the Assembly and eight years in the Senate. Assembly members who go on to the Senate therefore can serve 14 years, but most do not. Prop. 93 would change the limit to 12 years total in the legislature, all in one house or some time in each. As a transition, current legislators could serve 12 years in their current house even if they have served in the other house.

Supporters say

• Letting legislators stay in their jobs longer will provide more stability and let them develop more expertise.

• This would strengthen the legislature, making it more able to stand up to the governor and keep state agencies accountable. It would make legislators less dependent on professional lobbyists.

• A study by the Public Policy Institute of California found that term limits adopted in 1990 have meant that legislators review fewer bills and make fewer changes in the governor’s proposed budget. “Frequent changes in the membership—and especially the leadership—are taking a toll,” says UC Berkeley professor Bruce Cain, co-author of the study.

Prop. 93 “strikes a balance between the need for new legislators and fresh ideas and the need for veteran legislators with the expertise to deal with the complex problems facing California,” says Mike Myslinski, of the California Teachers Association.

Supporters: California Labor Federation, California Business Roundtable, Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, California Church Impact. 916-443-7817, www.termlimitsreform.com (link removed for being inactive)

Opponents say

Opponents argue that the current term limits law has

• Forced career politicians to give up power, allowing people with new ideas to be elected to the legislature.

• Increased the number of women and people of color in the legislature.

They say Prop. 93:

• Is “a cynical and blatant attempt by career politicians to hold on to their political power,” in the words of California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner.

• Contains a loophole for current legislators that would allow them to keep their jobs even longer.

Opponents: California Peace Officers Association, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, 916-482-5000, www.stopthepolicitians.org

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California paid sick days campaign

Action: The California Work and Family Coalition is asking individuals and organizations to join its campaign to guarantee California workers a minimum number of paid sick days a year.

Background: According to the Work and Family Coalition, two of every five California workers have no paid sick days—and these tend to be the lowest-income workers. “Every day,” says the coalition’s web site, “workers are forced to choose between a paycheck and caring for their own health and/or a sick family member.”

No state or federal laws currently guarantee workers paid sick days. But San Francisco last year passed a law requiring employers to give their employees a minimum number of paid sick days a year. The new campaign will push for a similar law statewide.

For info: Brenda Munoz at 510-643-7088, Brenda@workingfamilies.org.

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Fight poverty with bigger tax refunds

Action: File for your Earned Income Tax Credit when you file your taxes this year—and find out how you or your organization can help other families file for theirs.

Background: The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a federal income tax credit available to working people earning up to $39,783 (depending on family size). It’s the federal government’s biggest and most successful antipoverty program.

The EITC can be up to $4,716, depending on your income and family type. And it’s refundable. That means, for example, if your tax credit is $2,000 but you only owe $1,000 in taxes, the government will pay you $1,000!

To get free help filling out your tax form and applying for the EITC, you can go to a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) center if your income is under $42,000 a year. You don’t have to be a citizen. To find the VITA center nearest you, call 800-829-1040 or go to www.ftb.ca.gov.

To get trained as a volunteer or to learn how your organization can become a VITA site next year, email the IRS, partner@irs.gov or the California Franchise Tax Board, volunteercoordinator@ftb.ca.gov. United Way of the Bay Area and United Way LA also help organizations set up VITA centers. Contact them at www.uwba.org or www.unitedwayla.org

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CARES in the balance

The California First 5 Commission will decide at their meeting January 24 and 25 whether to extend funding for the CARES program, which provides stipends and other supports to early childhood teachers and caregivers who continue their education. They will be voting on “bridge” funding to keep CARES going while they evaluate whether to make a long-term commitment to the program. For information about the meeting, go to www.ccfc.ca.gov/

The California Child Develop-ment Corps is collecting letters from teachers about what CARES has meant to them. Letters can be sent to The Child Develop-ment Corps c/o UWBA, 221 Main St, Ste 300, SF, CA 94105. For more information on Corps efforts to support ongoing funding for CARES, contact Sara Hicks-Kilday at 415-808-7327, cares@caccwrc.org

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Crystal Stairs: Poor families need more

Crystal Stairs, a Los Angeles child care resource and referral agency, has released a report, “A Step Up, But Not Out,” showing that most low-income families receiving child care subsidies continue to struggle to make ends meet. Crystal Stairs’ study found that:

• Child care subsidies are effective in raising many families’ standard of living

• The poorest families saw their incomes increase the most

• But only a very small number of families receiving child care subsidies raised their incomes so much they were no longer eligible—most families’ incomes remained low.

The report concludes that more “safety net” programs and other policies “need to be implemented that strengthen the working class and boost working poor families into the middle class.”

For a copy of the report, call 323-299-8998 or go to www.crystalstairs.org/about_us/publications.htm

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