Every Minute you're late costs us dearly

by Sam Drew/PNN

"Time is money! Every minute you’re late it costs us dearly", barked the irascible security supervisor as I sulked into work just a few minutes late. This painful incident raced into my head as I was reporting and sup-porting on the budget delay protest in front of the soulless California State Building in Downtown Oakland.

The California State Budget is two months late and is costing poor people and the children of the state dearly. What’s holding up this assembly approved and Governor supported state budget is the desire of a few State Senate Republicans to cut $700 million from welfare and other social service programs. The proposed cuts will also cause changes to CalWORKs California’s Welfare program, which will push nearly a quarter of a million poor children off the welfare rolls and deeper into poverty.

While the State legislature took a nice summer vacation the budget deadlock dangled over the heads of the Golden State residents. Tens of thousands of childcare providers, nursing homes and health clinics are struggling to operate without any money and this has put many low income working families at risk of losing child care and other services.

"Who is hurt most by this budget impasse is welfare mothers, working parents and child care providers," vociferated Carol Jones, District Director for Assembly Member Sandre Swanson said to a crowd filled with active and alert children.

Katie Carranza, a parent attending college in Oakland chimed in, "We represent 250,000 children, by blocking the budget [the state] sends me a message we just don’t matter."

As the afternoon sun drenched us, we marched and chanted with passion so those holding up the budget in Sacramento could hear our demands.

"What do we want… Childcare!!!"

"When do we want it… NOW!!!"

"We’re marching and we intend to vote. We’re watching and we intend to vote."

Coloring books as well as snacks and refreshments were handed out to children who marched side by side with their caregivers and parents to end this harmful and mean spirited budget deadlock.

Vivian Hain, a LIFETIME (Low-Income Families Empowerment through Education) member and POOR magazine staff writer, cried out to the stalemated state legislatures, "Don’t forget the poor children in California…All children count. ..Don’t balance the budget on the backs of the poor."

As a final measure a call was made to State Senator Dick Ackerman(R) Tustin so he could hear the collective outrage and pain over the budget being held hostage by a couple of Republican legislators. Everyone was implored to call Dick Ackerman everyday until our budget is signed and our children stop suffering.

A budget was passed with the minimum required Republican votes Tuesday ending the recent standoff. Ackerman voted to pass the budget. Although millions of dollars will now be freed for social service providers that have been struggling to operate for the past two months, it is unforeseen what other cuts will be made to eliminate the state deficit of $700 million.