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Dateline Sacramento (3/11/2010)

 

Dateline Sacramento
News with a View from the California Capitol
March 11, 2010
Field poll shows voters prefer spending cuts to solve $20 billion deficit
California’s fiscal woes continue to send approval ratings for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Legislature to historic lows. Nevertheless, each year these elected representatives routinely fail to resolve the state’s budget deficit. For example, after a protracted budget impasse, the governor and Legislature finally reduced the 2009 budget by $60 billion, through tax increases, spending reductions, borrowing, and accounting shuffles, yet the state is again faced with a projected $20 billion shortfall for 2010.
In January, the governor called the 8th emergency session of the 2009-10 legislative year to specifically address the deficit. After two months of pontificating, posturing and politicking, the Legislature sent the governor a fiscal package that primarily consisted of accounting gimmicks. The governor responded by approving only $200 million of the $2.6 billion package and issuing a stern veto message that stated: “The longer the Legislature delays action on real reductions, the more difficult the choices become. I encourage the Legislature to return to work in the Extraordinary Session and act on actual spending reductions that will address California’s fiscal emergency.”
A recent Field Poll showed that California voters agree with Governor Schwarzenegger’s call for spending reductions. According to the poll commissioned by Next 10, 50% of the state’s registered voters prefer closing the deficit either completely or primarily through spending cuts. Conversely, only 13% support reducing the deficit wholly or mostly through tax increases:
Spending cuts only                                          31%
Mostly spending cuts                                       19%
Equal mix of cuts and taxes                              29%
Mostly tax increases                                        9%
Tax increases only                                          4%
No Opinion                                                     8%
This poll’s findings are consistent with the voter’s rejection of previously proposed tax increases in the May 2009 special election, when the Legislature and governor placed five measures on the ballot that would have increased Californians’ taxes in an effort to close the 2009 budget deficit. Each of those measures were rejected by more than 60% of the vote. 
The Field Poll also confirms previous findings of voter dissatisfaction with government and its inability to address voter concerns. According to poll respondents, 63% believe state government is failing to respond to “the needs of people like themselves or their families.” This sentiment was felt strongly by both Democrats and Republicans, with 61% of Democrats and 74% of Republicans affirming this statement.
As the 2010 budget season progresses, Californians’ weariness will be magnified if the Legislature continues to refuse to make necessary spending reductions. Already the state’s credit rating remains the lowest in the nation and the 12.4% jobless rate continues to surpass the national average. 
Absent courageous and responsive leadership to dissolve California’s recurring budget deficit, legislators and the governor will continue to lose the confidence of California families.
Dynamic and Interactive Event a Hit with Teens
The weather outside was cold and stormy, but the atmosphere inside Fresno’s Northeast Assembly of God Church was anything but. On Saturday, February 27th, nearly 100 Christian teens, youth pastors and parents were energized by the premier of “TrueU: a Fusion of Fact and Faith”, an event produced and presented by California Family Council (CFC).
The three-hour multi-media experience introduced attendees to Focus on the Family’s TrueU biblical worldview DVD series, a foundational study for Christian teens.
Recent studies reveal that between 61% and 88% of Christian teens walk away from their faith during their college years. These numbers demonstrate that students enter college unprepared for the challenges they may face from college professors, an alluring social scene, and the tremendous pressures to “experience” what the world has to offer.
In response to these alarming statistics, Focus on the Family’s Truth Project team recently released “Does God Exist?” the first in a series of DVDs produced specifically for college-bound teens.
Highlighting the premier of “TrueU, a Fusion of Fact and Faith” were live personal testimonies from four college students. Two young men and two young women candidly detailed the challenges and confrontations they face daily on their campuses and in their classrooms. They also emphasized strategies that help them stay true to their faith, and how important it is to have supportive peers who share their Christian values, creating a system of accountability.
Dr. Del Tackett, creator of The Truth Project biblical worldview series states, “I really believe that a high school student going into this environment, if they are prepared, and if they approach it with the wisdom and the winsomeness that I think God has called us to, that they can not only survive, but they can be a redeeming, reforming force that could have a huge impact on their professors and the students that they are engaging in that environment.”
The TrueU DVDs are designed to do just that, and its first series gets right to the point. In “Does God Exist?” students learn that the latest scientific research supports their faith in God, rather than refuting it. When students understand the evidence, they are then empowered to defend their faith on campus.
In addition to hearing personal experiences from collegians, the three-hour event featured clips from the DVD series and successful strategies for facilitators who will be using the series with their youth groups.
“The Fresno event exceeded all expectations,” said Dan Kirby, CFC’s Operations Director and facilitator. “Attendees left Northeast Assembly of God Church feeling energized and empowered with a powerful tool to equip students for the collegiate years. Now we need to encourage more churches to host events so we can get the DVD series out to as many youth pastors, parents and young people as quickly as possible.”
If you can assist California Family Council in identifying potential churches to host TrueU events in your area, please contact our office at 951-354-8362, or e-mail DianaM@CaliforniaFamily.org. There is no registration cost to attend a TrueU training event. To find out more click here.
California Family Council is dedicated to empowering parents to raise their children with the values of their home and faith. “TrueU, A Fusion of Fact and Faith” is just one of the many programs CFC provides to help parents and families. Visit our website often for the latest information and opportunities.
Local Links
LOS ANGELES – Three Los Angeles elementary school teachers have been suspended for instructing students to carry photos of O.J. Simpson, Dennis Rodman and RuPaul during a Black History Month parade. Read more at ABC News.
SAN FRANCISCO – A federal court judge has ordered several same-sex “marriage” advocacy groups who participated in the NO on Proposition 8 campaign to submit their internal memos and emails to the legal team defending Proposition 8 in federal court. Read more at KRON.com.
OAKLAND – A San Francisco Bay area freeway was shut down in both directions by college students protesting budget cuts at California universities. About 150 protesters who were demonstrating in downtown Oakland moved onto the I-880 freeway on Thursday evening. Read more at KOCO.com.
SACRAMENTO – The first California stem-cell laboratory is set to open in Sacramento. The new laboratory is funded from revenues generated by the voter-approved Proposition 71. California Family Council contested the validity of Proposition 71 in court, and lost. 
Read more in the Modesto Bee.
SACRAMENTO – In a new report released by the California Fair Political Practice Commission, the California Teachers Association leads all groups in campaign contributions and lobbying over the last decade, surpassing $200 million. Read more in the Sacramento Bee.
You're Invited!
California Family Council continues to expand its offerings of the acclaimed Truth Project group leader training seminars. Training in biblical worldview is essential to living out authentic Christianity in today’s postmodern culture, with its subjective claims of truth.  

Saturday, May 1, 2010
(First of two opportunities in Modesto)
Big Valley Grace Community Church (San Joaquin Valley)
4040 Tully Road, Modesto CA  95356
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
(Walk-up registration begins at 7:45 a.m.)
Registration: $99 per person/couple (includes 1 DVD set).
(Suggested Contribution)
Click Here to Register Online

Saturday, May 15, 2010
Clovis First Assembly of God Church (Central Valley)
1185 Sunnyside Ave., Clovis CA  93611
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
(Walk-up registration begins at 7:45 a.m.)
Registration: $99 per person/couple (includes 1 DVD set).
(Suggested Contribution)
Click Here to Register Online

Saturday, June 5, 2010
(Second of two opportunities in Modesto)
Big Valley Grace Community Church (San Joaquin Valley)
4040 Tully Road, Modesto CA  95356
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
(Walk-up registration begins at 7:45 a.m.)
Registration: $99 per person/couple (includes 1 DVD set).
(Suggested Contribution)
Click Here to Register Online  

Group Rates Available for all Truth Project events: Call 951.354.8362 for details or click info@californiafamily.org
For more information on attending or hosting a seminar, call the California Family Council at 951.354.8362 and ask for Diana. Register online for seminars at: www.californiafamilycouncil.org

QUICK LINKS: DONATE TO CFC - CALIFORNIA FAMILY COUNCIL - THE TRUTH PROJECT- TRUE-U  
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