Assembly Republicans vote against saving California’s
pupils, side with rich oil companies
When asked to choose between closing
classrooms and taxing rich oil companies, assembly Republicans once again sided
with their powerful donors, rather than California’s schoolchildren. Not
surprisingly, they chose profits over pupils, parents, and public education.
The partisan vote is a real threat to public
education, to communities, and to the middle-class.
Parents, students, teachers and working
families across the state are facing larger classroom sizes, the elimination of
arts and physical education classes, and a reduction in quality education.
This 6 percent tax on oil companies, less than
half the rate levied in Alaska, would have raised nearly a billion dollars in
revenues in the coming year.
California’s working and middle-class families
are already facing a crunch with a slowing economy and increasing foreclosures
on their homes. With the state’s multi-billion dollar budget shortfall, and no
new money to pay their salaries, now up to one hundred thousand hard working
school employees stand to lose their jobs.
By voting in unison against the oil severance
tax for oil companies, assembly Republicans have made their budget priorities
perfectly clear.
If Republicans are unwilling to tax rich
companies to prevent teacher layoffs, the time has come for them to present
their budget alternative.