Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/55384
Close-up on the Schools and Local Public Safety Protection Act of 2012 The initiative is called the Schools and Local Public Safety Protection Act of 2012 and has been officially titled: "Temporary Taxes to Fund Education. Guaranteed Local Public Safety Funding. Initiative Constitutional Amendment." Its proponents must gather 807,615 valid signatures from California voters by June 18. It would raise as much as $6.9 billion annually through 2015-16 and boost school funding. The temporary tax funds would go to K-12 schools and community colleges in line with the ratios established by Proposition 98. Paying for realignment would free up $3 billion for higher education — CSU and UC — and other essential services. Betty Forrester of United Teachers Los Angeles speaks about the governor's tax initiative. Funding Restoration Act, which is spon- sored by the California Federation of Teachers and the Courage Campaign and relies on increasing taxes of millionaires and high earners. While several speakers spoke passionately and eloquently for the CFT initiative because it would require more from millionaires, Council was per- suaded by arguments that the governor's initiative had the best chance of winning because of the broad support it is likely to receive; that it freed up money for higher education and other essential services; and that it paid down the wall of debt the state must address. Council also elected not to support a third initiative sponsored by wealthy activist Molly Munger. Her "Our Chil- dren, Our Future" initia- tive wouldn't bring funds to higher education, nor would it help reduce the state deficit. The early support for the governor's tax ini- tiative will allow CTA to prepare for other important campaign issues, particu- larly the "paycheck deception" initia- tive, which will involve a large-scale member mobilization. Unlike two pre- vious initiatives, the measure on the November ballot doesn't just af fect CTA and public employee unions, but all unions in the state, and goes straight to their abi lity to give their members a voice in politics. It prohib- its any contributions collected via pay- roll deduction (i.e., member dues) to ballot measure committees as well as independent expenditures supporting or Funding would also ensure local govern- ments the promised funding for public safety services realigned from state to local governments. The measure would increase personal income taxes on annual earnings over $250,000 for five years. It would increase the sales and use tax by one- half cent for four years. opposing state and local candidates and ballot measures. "Defeating this must be the top prior- THEY KNOW THAT AS A UNION OF EDUCATORS WE WILL ALWAYS PUT STUDENTS BEFORE PROFITS AND LEARNING BEFORE MANDATES. Dean E. Vogel ity for the entire labor community, not just us," Vogel said. "If this initiative passes, we won't be able to advocate for our profession or our state — but corporations would be able to lobby for their inter- ests. We get taken out of the picture. Corporations get the whole show." He cont inued, "If we left it up to the CEOs, how long do you think we'd have a 40-hour work week, a secure retirement, and safe working conditions — al l things our union and oth- ers fought hard for? Those February 2012 / www.cta.org 29 CTA Photo by Dina Martin