CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS
 
LIFETIME RESEARCH AND PUBLICATIONS
 
PARENT LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE
 
END POVERTY, NOT WELFARE! CAMPAIGN
 
STATE BUDGET WORK
 
PAST CAMPAIGNS AND SUCCESSES
     
 
State Budget

  
 
LIFETIME parent leaders protest budget cuts while wearing, "Don't Target our Children" t-shirts.

LIFETIME calls upon the California State Legislature to save the safety net for low and moderate income families and children. All Californians need access to medical care, childcare, educational opportunities, and a basic safety net. Don’t balance the budget on the backs of poor Californians! We need a balanced approach to the budget that requires corporations and wealthy Californians to pay their fair share.  

POLICY ALERT ON FEDERAL BUDGET BILL!

  
 

Don’t Balance the State Budget on the Backs of Poor Children!

LIFETIME parent leaders at San Francisco budget action.
  • Protect CalWORKs grant levels, COLAs, and Stage 3 Childcare Benefits.

  • Maintain health and welfare programs for low-income and immigrant families.

  • Maintain funding for California’s community colleges, and keep student fees affordable.

  • Balance the budget fairly - wealthy individuals and corporations must pay their fair share of the budget.

  • Reinstate the increase in vehicle license fees for cars worth more than $15,000 – the well-being of California’s children is more important than reducing vehicle fees for luxury cars owners.

  • Do not increase sales taxes, which are largely regressive and will further hurt low-income families.

  • Reinstate the 10 and 11 percent income tax rates for high-income Californians. The deficit is so severe that the budget cannot be balanced by program cuts alone – particularly to those who serve poor children.

  • Reduce prison spending through early releases for non-violent offenders.

  • Cutting services for poor and disabled children may save money today – but it will cost California much more in the long run

LIFETIME has conducted several budget actions to prevent budget cuts in the state of California. As a result, in 2004 the Governor of California reversed his plan to slash CalWORKs grants, reinstated CalWORKs Cost of Living Adjustments and eliminated the 18-24 month time limit on education and training for CalWORKs parents. Now CalWORKs parents can pursue education and training for their entire five years on welfare, and complete four-year degrees in demand occupations like nursing and teaching that pay living wages.