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Summer 2007 Newsletter
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The California Partnership is a statewide coalition of community based organizations that fights poverty in California. We work together for our common goals by organizing and advocating at the local, state and national levels for the programs and policies that reduce and end poverty. |
Summer Greetings to California Partnership Members, Allies, and Friends
Also this summer we'd like to work with our battalion of leaders, staff, and community members on a number of other issues facing low-income families, seniors, disabled and individuals, including healthcare, immigration, and civic engagement. Many of these issues are relevant and precious to our members, and we want to support and help facilitate the efforts of those of you working on these fronts. In this issue you'll find what we and others have been doing up to this point and our plans for further actions around the issues we care most about. Don't forget to check our website often to stay up-to-date on CAP's activities throughout the year. While our work to end poverty in California is never-ending, you can count on us (with much thanks to the support and work of our members, allies and friends!) to “stay the course” and keep this battle going until we've won!
In Solidarity Welcome CAP's Health Policy Specialist Mari LopezCAP would like to take this opportunity to formally introduce our Health Policy Specialist, Mari Lopez, who recently joined our staff. Some of you may have already met Mari through various events, activities and meetings. Mari will be California Partnership's lead on our health policy work to promote a proactive agenda that will expand health coverage and create building blocks for universal coverage. Mari will monitor and provide the latest updates on state and nationwide legislative efforts, and keep you abreast on California Partnership's health related trainings, meetings and actions at the state and federal levels. She will be in contact with you all very soon to better learn of your organization's health related work and how California Partnership may better work with you. You may reach Mari by phone at (213) 385-8010 (office), (213) 369-9460 (mobile), or by email, mlopez@communitychange.org . Please welcome her!
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| Senate President Don Perata | Speaker Fabian Nuñez |
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| 866-920-9457 | 866-920-9458 |
Please go to our website, www.california-partnership.org to get the latest updates on the state budget.
The Assembly, the Senate and Governor Schwarzenegger all came out of the New Year starting gate running full force to draw up ideas for a statewide plan for providing medical care to EVERYONE. Schwarzenegger presented his proposal early in the year, Speaker Nuñez's AB8 and President Pro-Tem Perata's SB48 have passed out of their respective houses a couple of weeks ago as well as Senator Khuel's dark horse, SB840*. The Perata and Nuñez bills will meet in conference committee to iron out a compromise on their differences. The Governor has no bill of his own to carry out his proposals. So interested parties are keeping their eyes and ears open. We'll keep you posted.
The most important differences between the bills are the following:
Individual Mandates (similar to vehicle insurance requirements)
Yes – Perata, Schwarzenegger
No – Nuñez
Employee Mandate (everyone employed would be required to obtain health coverage offered by their employers who would buy it through a state pool, there is an exception for low-income households who can get subsidized)
Yes – Nuñez, Schwarzenegger
No – Perata
Employer Contribution (how much the employer has to pay in order to cover an employee)
4% of Payroll – Schwarzenegger
7% of Payroll – Nuñez, Perata
Medi-Cal & Healthy Families
Eligibility at 300% Federal Poverty Level – Nuñez, Perata
Eligibility between 100 – 250% Federal Poverty Level – Schwarzenegger
*SB848 is a single-payer plan, which does not require individuals to have health coverage, and all funds to pay for healthcare – from employers and government - are paid into a single system that would handle the system of payment to the medical providers. This bill would create a state department to manage paying for care among hospitals, clinics and would have the responsibility to find the funding as well.
Both Houses are working at a compromise, and then will take the amendments back to the Assembly and Senate for a final vote before sending it off to the Governor. The Governor will then have one more chance to demonstrate his commitment to providing health care to all Californians by signing on the proverbial dotted line.
Health Care for EVERY Kid: Everyone's Dream
The federal legislation that needs to be authorized to provide states with funds to pay for programs like Medi-Cal and Healthy Families is treading water at present. The State Children's Health Improvement Act (SCHIP) needs to be renewed, and the feds budgeted it at a cost of $5 billion. Advocates say that's not nearly enough to cover the current enrollees to these programs and the anticipated new ones kids who will qualify. The real cost is $50 billion which has everyone looking under every stone for that extra cash. Congress is operating under the Pay-As-You-Go rule, where you can't submit a bill calling for new or additional funds without finding the money to pay for it first, making it tougher to come up with the needed funds for SCHIP. But there are some great proposals and creative ways to pay for health care for our kids. We'll let you know which ones make it out.
In addition to SCHIP advocates are also calling for the passage of the Legal Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act (ICHIA). Currently, legal immigrants must wait 5 years after adjusting their status before applying to public health programs like Medi-Cal/Healthy Families. ICHIA is legislation eliminating that rule and allowing legal immigrants to apply immediately. In California, our kids are lucky as they all get medical care regardless of status. However, we use money out of the general fund to pay for it. Adding ICHIA to SCHIP would let the state get reimbursed for these kids and freeing up funds for other programs.
We're mounting up the troops and will keep you posted as to how you and your members can make sure this is the year everyone gets health coverage.
The nation's political landscape is changing, creating hope in low-income communities everywhere. But hope is not enough! We need to begin organizing now to make sure our communities are informed and prepared to participate in the 2008 elections. Healthcare, immigration reform, workers rights and housing – these are just a few of the critical issues in our communities. By working together to win a common agenda for change, we can realize our hopes and dreams.
California Partnership will take advantage of national events, such as the primaries, caucuses and debates, to lift up the voices of our communities. And we will have materials and trainings to help groups plan education and get-out-the-vote campaigns. Stay tuned for more information on these activities!
Mobilize the Immigrant Vote Starts First Non-Election Cycle Analysis and Planning Series
California Partnership is one of the steering committee members for Mobilize the Immmigrant Vote (MIV). MIV's activities include:
For more information on these trainings, contact Alicia Lepe at (626) 224-8189 or Nancy Berlin at (213) 385-8010.
Please mark your calendars for the following CAP and member events throughout the state.
CAP chapter meetings:
July 11: CAP Los Angeles Chapter Meeting, CAP LA office, 2533W. Third St., Ste. 101. Contact Alicia Lepe, alepe@communitychange.org, (626) 224-8189.
Bay Area Chapter meets 4th Thursday each month in Oakland, 10am-Noon. Contact Rochelle Robinson at (510) 292-6941 for more info.
CAP San Diego Chapter Meeting, every 4th Wednesday of the month at Noon. Contact Alicia Lepe for location, alepe@communitychange.org, (626) 224-8189.
For information on San Bernardino and Central Valley meetings, contact Alicia Lepe at alepe@communitychange.org, (626) 224-8189.
Other events:
The Bay Area Parent Leadership Action Network (PLAN) is a regional network of parent leaders and parent-based organizations working to build a social justice movement for families. PLAN unites and strengthens diverse parents and organizations fighting for education equity, economic justice, quality child care, and parent representation through alliance building, leadership development, and action.
PLAN's core program areas work toward a future in which a visible, powerful base of low-income parents take effective action to transform key issues affecting the quality of life for Bay Area children and families. PLAN's key work includes: directly engaging low-income parents and parent organizations in the leadership of the network; providing opportunities for low-income parents from throughout the Bay Area to come together twice a year in Parent Action Forums and build and advocate for a regional parent policy platform; providing training to parents and organizations interested in developing leadership and advocacy for education equity using the PLAN to LEAD curriculum; and acting as a regional hub of information for parent advocates and leaders, providing information through www.parentactionnet.org and a 500-member Parent Action e-list.
PLAN works closely with many CAP organizations, including Parent Voices and LIFETIME, which are represented on its regional Leadership Council, along with CAP.
Support the California Partnership and Build Power for Low-Income Californians!
Be part of a growing movement! We're sure you understand the importance of all of us sharing the ownership of the California Partnership and being invested in its growing strength. Three years ago we had less than sixty members, just two chapters, and a non-representative coordinating committee. We now have over 120 member organizations, five chapters, and an elected and accountable coordinating committee. The move to implement dues is part of the effort to create an infrastructure that will continue to strengthen our network and our work.
The minimum dues structure is:
$25 small organization-less than $75,000 operating budget
$50 medium organization---less than $300,000 operating budget
$100 large organization---over $300,000 operating budget
We of course encourage you to donate more if you are able! We are keeping the dues low because of our commitment to include all organizations, and especially small, grassroots organizations, to participate. Community-based organizations who agree with our mission are eligible for membership.
We think you'll agree that the resources and growing community we offer as a member of the California Partnership are worth the very minimal dues, including:
Thank you and we look forward to working with you.
In Solidarity,
Nancy Berlin, Alicia Lepe, Mari Lopez, and Rochelle Robinson
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I agree with the California Partnership's mission and would like to join:
Dues:
___ $25 small organization-less than $75,000 operating budget
___ $50 medium organization---less than $300,000 operating budget
___ $100 large organization---over $300,000 operating budget
___ $25 individuals
In addition to dues and I/we are including an additional donation of: $_________.
Please make check payable to California Partnership, write in the memo area of your check that it is for "dues," and mail to:
Nancy Berlin
California Partnership
2533 West 3rd Street, #101
Los Angeles, CA 90057
Organization: _____________________________________________________________________
Name: _______________________________________ Title: ______________________________
Phone:_____________________ Fax #: _____________________ Cell: ______________________
Address:_________________________ City: __________________State: ________ Zip:_________
Email:____________________________ Issues of Interest:_________________________________
Hard to believe that we are very close to an end of this year's state budget season. If the state budget process keeps to its schedule, July 1st will mark the beginning of the new fiscal year for the state of California, when the final bill signed by the Governor becomes law. There was, however, a lot of commotion and action taking place during this process with California Partnership, our members and allies taking issue with the Governor's proposed cuts to the CalWORKs program including full family sanctions and a third year freeze on the Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA's). And even now, when it looks as if the full family sanctions have been taken out of the budget (yay!), we are disappointed that our leaders in the Assembly and State did not do enough to push for a defrosting of the COLA's (see our article below on Budget Updates). Although we typically begin our budget work in January at or near the Governor's press conference where the proposed cuts are announced, we realize that there is the opportunity to begin this process much earlier and must take every advantage to get our voices heard in the budget's embryonic stage. So this summer we will be working hard with you, our members and our allies, to ensure that we are more than prepared to take on whatever may be waiting for us next budget season.
CAP May Days 2007: A Huge Success! 
On the second day of our event, we visited 35 of our Assembly and Senate leaders to give testimony, share their concerns, and to demand that they take a stand firmly against these cuts. Overall, CAP has scheduled and participated in over 60 local and state legislative visits this budget season.
Fortunately, both the Assembly and Senate budget committees removed the full family sanctions from this year's budget, and approved a COLA for SSI/SSP. And it is not without the efforts of our members and allies that this piece of legislation has been defeated, so thanks to you all! Our many legislative visits throughout the year and on May 15 really made a difference!