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Dateline Sacramento (7/10/2009)

Dateline Sacramento
News with a View from the California Capitol
July 10, 2009
 
Protests, Boycotts and Word Wars…Budget Impasse Continues
Failure to resolve California’s estimated $24.3 billion deficit prior to the start of the new fiscal year, which began on July 1, resulted in State Controller John Chiang issuing IOUs to cover state expenses. Further, the failure of our elected leaders to come to a resolution before the deadline has caused a greater schism between them. As a result, budget negotiations have deteriorated. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s demand for additional budget cuts, suspension of Proposition 98 (the voter-approved funding mechanism that mandates state spending on education) and budgetary reforms has outraged Democrat legislators and special interest groups.
During Sunday’s discussions, after Governor Schwarzenegger reiterated his demand for budget reforms to be part of any budget fix, the Speaker of the Assembly, Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) walked out of the negotiations and began boycotting future negotiations. Speaker Bass stated that her boycott – refusal to participate in budget discussions – is in response to the governor insistence of “unrelated” budget reforms that she believes do not solve the now-estimated $26.3 billion deficit. Further, the governor’s desire to suspend Proposition 98 was, in her words an “unacceptable” option. In her opinion, the decision to boycott the meetings is no different than civil rights boycotts of the 1960s.
Since Sunday’s breakdown, the war of words has escalated between the governor, Democrat legislators and special interest groups. Governor Schwarzenegger continues to chide legislators for their refusal to solve the structural problems that keep the state mired in budget impasses year after year. According to Schwarzenegger, “Their (the Legislature’s) response to the budget problem that we have was really not a response at all; it was just really an invitation to create even a bigger budget crisis.” Democrat legislators, conversely, repeated their frustration with the governor, citing his unreasonableness and inability to recognize the immediate needs of California and claiming he has wasted time and cost the state over $3 billion in savings.
While Governor Schwarzenegger and the legislature remain embroiled in conflict and inaction, special interest groups are taking action. Anti-tax groups continue their radio and media campaign opposing proposed tax increases. Health and education groups continue to organize protests at the State Capitol against budget cuts. Yesterday, the California Teachers Association began airing political ads opposing Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposed Proposition 98 suspension.
The continued absence of Speaker Bass from budget negotiations and the parsing of words are indicative of a process that has fallen apart. At a time when leadership is greatly needed, true leadership and statesmanship is lacking. The inability of our elected officials to make tough decisions and resolve the budget impasse only increases the state’s deficit, and impacts California’s children and families more and more each day.
Actions Have Consequences!
The coalition that formed during the Prop. 8 battle remains intact. With a renewed sense of power, the people of California will continue to protect traditional marriage, and influence future elections by supporting new elected leaders who will protect and promote traditional family values. Citizens now realize that they have the responsibility and the power to protect the culture for their children and grandchildren. It’s time for change WE can believe in. The California Legislature today–the same people who have brought financial ruin on the state–defiantly pass bills that are in direct opposition to the vote of the people.
For example, three specific bills authored by California Senator Mark Leno (D–San Francisco) are making their way through the Senate and Assembly, and unfortunately may not slow until they come before Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Senate Bills (SB) 54, 543, and 572 strike at the heart of citizen protections. Senator Leno may accurately represent the San Franciscans that elected him, the majority of legislators who vote in favor of these bills do so in direct opposition to those who elected them.
SB 54 attempts to give recognition to any same-sex marriage performed outside of California prior to November 5, 2008, the day after the people of California passed Proposition 8. SB 543 allows a child as young as 12 to receive mental health counseling without the knowledge or consent of a parent. SB 572 The “Harvey Milk bill,” vetoed last year by Governor Schwarzenegger and revived again this year by the legislature, attempts to publicly honor Milk in our government and schools as the first openly homosexual politician. 
At the same time the success of Proposition 8, against significant political, financial and media opposition, has given citizens a vision for what they can accomplish when a successful strategy is in place. Grassroots networks across the state are aligning for future action as legislators ignore the will of those who elected them. 
Proposition 8 won by a margin of 600,000 votes, yet city councils and state legislators throughout California have publicly endorsed same-sex marriage in direct opposition to the will of those who elected them. The blatant disregard for the authority of parents over their own children, the promotion of homosexuality in public schools, and the Legislature’s opposition to the will of voters on marriage is creating a passionate uprising.
Please pray for the continued planning and communications, as strategies are put into place and hundreds of thousands of Californians are contacted in order to gain their participation.
The Faith of America’s Hispanics
A recent survey conducted by Barna Research reports that the largest ethnic population in America is assimilating its faith practices to those of Caucasians. While America’s Hispanic population aligns more strongly with the Catholic Church (44% compared to 22% of whites), that percentage has dropped by 25 points in the past 15 years. Percentages that have significantly increased include:
·         Claiming to be “born again”
·         Living a life that agrees with their commitment to Jesus Christ
·         Church attendance
·         Reading the Bible weekly and believing it to be authoritative
George Barna, founder and president of Barna Research, offered his analysis of the changes taking place in faith among the nation’s Hispanic population:
“The research points out several important realities about the faith of Hispanics in America. First, Hispanics are becoming a more mainstream population in various ways – politically, economically, relationally, culturally – and this data reveals that they are assimilating in their faith perspectives and practices, as well. The influence of a dominant culture and its traditions has a powerful affect on people’s lives. While Hispanics have indisputably influenced American culture, these figures remind us that such transformation is a two-way street.”
Local Links
SACRAMENTO – Starting Friday, most California state government offices will begin closing three days a month to save money. The shutdowns are part of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's order to furlough state employees, effectively reducing their pay about 14 percent. The closures are intended to aid the state as it wrestles with a steep decline in tax revenue. Read more in The State website.
SAN FRANCISCO – Despite recent actions by California regulators to include marijuana smoke on the list of substances that cause cancer (read here), pro-marijuana advocates have released a television advertisement advocating legalization and taxation of the drug to help solve the budget deficit. Read more at My58, a Sacramento television station.
SACRAMENTO –When Wall Street financier Bernard Madoff was carted off to prison in disgrace last week, he left behind thousands of investors in financial ruin. His estimated $65 billion global Ponzi scheme — which the court called "extraordinarily evil" — robbed individuals, banks, universities, even charities, including 450 Californians. Read more in the Contra Costa Times.
 
Opportunity “knocks”
RIVERSIDE – California Family Council continues to expand its offerings of the acclaimed Truth Project group leader training seminars. Training in biblical worldview is a prerequisite to living out authentic Christianity in today’s postmodern culture with its subjective claims of truth. 
Make plans now to attend one of the upcoming seminars to learn about matching your belief system, your actions, and your biblical worldview; equip yourself to lead others through this DVD series that asks, “Do you really believe that what you believe is really real?” Find out more! 
The next training event is on July 18 at Peoples Church in Fresno.
If you are interested in hosting a Truth Project training seminar in your area, please call (951) 354-8362 and ask for Trudy Thomas.
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