Real Cuts and Fake Solutions Hurt Working Families

Statement by California Labor Federation Executive Secretary-Treasurer Art Pulaski

 

“What the legislature passed today is a budget packed with nothing but cuts and gimmicks – exactly what the governor and legislature promised not to do. It relies on sleight of hand and downright thievery from those who can least afford it, while digging our budget hole even deeper. This ‘no new taxes’ budget really means ‘let the grandkids pay for it later.’

“On top of billions of dollars in cuts, this budget deal includes an unconscionable takeaway of workers’ right to overtime pay. This takeaway does absolutely nothing to solve California’s budget problems. It does, however, amount to a pay cut for workers already struggling in this sour economy.

“The fact that this deal was three months overdue and had more smoke and mirrors than a David Copperfield show is a direct result of our broken budget process. Unless we change the threshold to pass budgets and raise revenues, we’ll never move beyond real budget cuts and fake budget solutions.

“The budget passed today does not represent the values of California’s working families. It may let the governor and legislature get out of town, but it shouldn’t let them escape responsibility for its sorry contents.”

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