I am again asking that you make contact with your state legislators. Below are links to letters to our local state Senators and Assembly members. You are welcome to mail the letters yourself, or send them through the District mail to the HTA office and we will mail for you.

When contacting legislators, how much you say is often as important as what you say. The number of letters received has an impact. Feel free to sign all three letters. The more often these people hear your concerns the louder the message.

The goal is not just to fix this year’s budget, but to change the funding mechanism for education. We need to let our state legislators know how we feel. Education did not put California in this budget mess, and our children should not be ransomed to solve it. California currently spends $1,900 less per student than the national average and, if the proposed cuts actually take place, our state will rank forty-ninth in funding. In addition, California ranks dead last in the number of counselors, nurses and librarians per student. The typical American school has 30 percent more teachers than the average school in California. But any structural budget reforms must protect Proposition 98, as well as provide the stable funding our students and schools deserve.

The governor’s proposed budget is a giant step backwards for our students. It’s disappointing and ironic that in the proclaimed “year of education”, the governor is talking about cutting billions from our public schools and decimating our minimum school funding law.

Jim Battin, Senate Member

73-710 Fred Waring Drive #112
Palm Desert, CA 92260
760-568-0408
760-568-1501 (fax)

13800 Heacock Street #C112
Moreno Valley, CA 92553
951-653-9502
951-653-9524 (fax)

Paul Cook, Assembly Member

34932 Yucaipa Blvd.
Yucaipa, CA 92399
909-790-4196
909-790-0479 (fax)