California Progress Report http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/ The California Progress Report en 2009-07-04T05:20:00-08:00 The Black-White Fallacy of Public Option http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2009/07/the_black-white.html Kevin Lynn Call me a cynic, but I am deeply skeptical of the rhetoric I hear coming out of the Obama administration regarding healthcare reform. I am concerned at the pace with which a plan was adopted, the apparent lack of curiosity when it came to evaluating and embedding best... Health Care dmgreenwald 2009-07-04T05:20:00-08:00 Targeting Obesity Remains A Priority in Tough Budget Times http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2009/07/targeting_obesi.html By Dan Aiello California Progress Report Amidst the public budget hearings and closed door sessions last week the California Health Policy Forum highlighted the Department of Health and Human Services' continuing work on the plan to end California’s epidemic obesity. Key among the presented issues: How to fund future efforts... Children and Families dmgreenwald 2009-07-03T06:22:30-08:00 Thousands Speak Out Against CA’s Costly and Broken Death Penalty http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2009/07/thousands_speak.html by Natasha Minsker ACLU of Northern California Last week, Californians had their first opportunity to speak out about the state’s execution procedures at an official state hearing. Thousands made their voices heard and their message was clear: it is time for California to replace its costly and broken death penalty... Legal System dmgreenwald 2009-07-03T06:17:48-08:00 Cuts Would Jeopardize Well-Being of Many Disabled Citizens http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2009/07/cuts_would_jeop.html by Ana Acton Executive Director FREED Center for Independent Living June 22, 2009, marked the 10th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark Olmstead decision. In its 1999 ruling, the high court affirmed the right of individuals with disabilities to live in their community of choice, and rejected the state... Health Care dmgreenwald 2009-07-03T06:12:31-08:00 Fully Fund Our Schools http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2009/07/fully_fund_our.html by Jack O’Connell Superintendent of Public Instruction California's voters – both those who voted and especially those who did not – made their voices heard in the May 19 special election on Propositions 1A-1F. But many politicians in Sacramento mistakenly seem convinced that the election results were a clear call... Education dmgreenwald 2009-07-03T05:56:59-08:00 Same Governor, Different Goals http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2009/07/same_governor_d.html By Cynthia Craft Health Access California As July 1st hits, a budget fix for California is apparently nowhere in sight. So how is this year different from years past? Besides the alarming $24 billion hole in California's budget, we seem to have a different Governor. As recently as 2007-08, Gov.... California State Budget dmgreenwald 2009-07-02T06:38:52-08:00 Assemblymember Evans Sets the Record Straight http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2009/07/assemblymember_19.html By Assemblymember Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), Chair of the Budget Conference Committee (Originally posted on Evans’ budget blog at http://californiabudget.blogspot.com/) Today, the governor held a press conference that reminded me of the phrase “everyone is entitled to his own opinion but not his own facts.” As was expected, the governor... California State Budget dmgreenwald 2009-07-02T06:31:31-08:00 Governor Proposes More Raids of Public Education Dollars http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2009/07/governor_propos_1.html In the wake of the Governor’s failure to sign a budget that would make the state solvent in terms of cash flow, the Governor has made a number of proposals to find money. One of these proposals is to suspend Proposition 98, the minimum funding law designed to provide funding... Education dmgreenwald 2009-07-02T06:25:20-08:00 Governor’s Actions Lead To Unnecessary and Premature Crisis http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2009/07/governors_actio.html by David M. Greenwald Editor California Progress Report An Op-Ed by the San Jose Mercury news on Wednesday blasted Governor Arnold Schwarzenneger for needlessly pushing the state over the edge. Today, Controller John Chiang will begin handing out IOUs to state workers and to vendors of the state. As Controller... California State Budget dmgreenwald 2009-07-02T04:56:35-08:00 Governor Scapegoats Dedicated Homecare Providers http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2009/07/governor_scapeg.html by Doug Moore Executive Director United Domestic Workers of America Doug Moore, executive director, UDW Homecare Providers Union issued the following statement in response to the Governor’s Budget proposals: It is unfortunate that the governor continues to use thousands of dedicated homecare providers and the people they serve as scapegoats... California State Budget dmgreenwald 2009-07-02T04:42:54-08:00 Patient Protest Marks First Cuts To Medi-Cal http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2009/07/patient_protest.html By Dan Aiello California Progress Report A protest by approximately 250 Medi-Cal enrollees and healthcare providers Tuesday, one of four demonstrations to besiege the state capitol steps, marked the death knell for the first eight Medi-Cal services slated for elimination, even as legislators struggle to reconcile new budget woes.... Health Care dmgreenwald 2009-07-01T05:27:26-08:00 Oakland’s modest model of fairness http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2009/07/oaklands_modest.html By Peter Schrag Columnist California Progress Report At a time when its unfairness and incomprehensibility scream for change, the specifics of California’s convoluted and irrational property tax system hardly need more elaboration. For the same reason even a modest attempt to address one element of its chronic unfairness – and... Taxes dmgreenwald 2009-07-01T05:23:00-08:00 Schwarzenegger Threatens to Shut Down the State http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2009/07/schwarzenegger_109.html By Willie L. Pelote, Sr. Assistant Director ASFCME With California just a few days away from having to issue IOUs to pay its bills, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is threatening to shut down the state rather than agree to $2 billion worth of new taxes on cigarettes and alcohol and... California State Budget dmgreenwald 2009-07-01T05:19:23-08:00 Republicans Refuse to Support Cash Crisis Bills—We Now Go To Crisis and IOUs http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2009/07/republicans_ref.html By Marty D. Omoto Director/Organizer California Disability Community Action Network State Senate Republicans, saying they wanted a complete and not a partial budget solution, refused to support 3 bills that would have provided over $3 billion in cash for the State Controller to pay vendors and other reimbursements instead of... California State Budget dmgreenwald 2009-07-01T05:16:05-08:00 Huge Health Care Cuts Hit Beginning Today http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2009/07/huge_health_car.html By Anthony Wright Executive Director of Health Access California As we wait to see the news about a possible budget deal--and the prospects of more and more cuts--it's important to note that the ramifications of past cuts are just being felt in a widespread manner. Today, July 1st, the inability... Health Care dmgreenwald 2009-07-01T05:13:04-08:00