CA bishops urge consideration for poor
The California Catholic Conference, the lobbying arm of California's Catholic bishops, has urged the governor and legislature to remember the poor and vulnerable amidst the state's growing budget crisis. Steve Pehanich, CCC's senior director for advocacy and education, told Catholic San Francisco that Californians should work together to promote the welfare of all.
"Catholic teaching suggests that tax policy needs to promote the common good, but there are differences of opinion about how to reach that goal," Pehanich said. "That's where prudential judgment comes in. The bishops are not economists but it's clear the state is in a major fiscal bind. Our Catholic principles would say we need to work together to fix it."
The call comes just days before Californians head to the polls to vote in the May 19 special election. Though Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Democratic-controlled Legislature agreed to place six measures on the ballot in February, ending a three-month stalemate over the state's projected $42 billion budget deficit, all but one of the initiatives appear poised for defeat.
In an April 29 poll released by the Field Research Corporation, nearly half of all likely voters polled disapproved of ballot measures 1A and 1B, which would restrain future state spending, extend tax cuts and allocate $9.3 billion to school to make up for past budget cuts. More than one-in-ten voters remained undecided, though earlier polls showed undecided voters trending against the measures. Both measures must pass for 1B to take effect.
Prop 1C would allow the state to borrow up to $5 billion from future lottery proceeds. The proposition faced the greatest opposition, with 59 percent of likely voters against and only 32 percent in favor of the measure.
Measures 1D and 1E would each reallocate funds from previously passed ballot initiatives to help pay down the deficit. Prop 1D would redirect tobacco tax revenues, currently allocated for children's health and social services, to the general fund. If approved, Prop 1E would also redirect money from mental health programs to the general fund. Each faces opposition similar to that faced by 1A and 1B.
For more information from the California Catholic Conference visit www.cacatholic.org. By Michael Vick
From May 15, 2009 issue of Catholic San Francisco.
