A powerful California public employee union formed a campaign committee Monday with two other labor groups to oppose Proposition 1A, a May 19 ballot measure that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders have said will solve future budget problems.
Service Employees International Union's California State Council, which says it represents 700,000 workers, has teamed up with the California Faculty Association and the California Federation of Teachers to form a committee opposing Proposition 1A.
SEIU declined to say how much it plans to spend on the opposition effort, which will be a better indicator of its commitment to defeating the ballot proposal. Proponents, who include Schwarzenegger and the California Teachers Association, are raising millions of dollars in an effort to pass Proposition 1A and five other budget-related measures on the special election ballot.
Proposition 1A would limit state spending in good fiscal years, diverting money to a "rainy-day fund." But it also would extend $16 billion worth of temporary tax increases on sales, income and vehicles to 2013.
"Once voters read this proposal with their own eyes, they will see that it is flawed and overly complicated, and will give extraordinary new and unrestricted power to the governor and his political appointees, with no checks and balances," Marty Hittleman, president of the California Federation of Teachers, said in a statement.
State leaders included the temporary tax hike extensions in Proposition 1A in part to discourage groups such as SEIU from fighting the measure. By restraining public spending, the measure could limit the expansion of the public-sector jobs that the labor unions forming the committee represent.
SEIU Local 1000, which represents 95,000 state employees, declined to comment. The state council is an SEIU umbrella organization that handles statewide political issues.
The unions, in their Monday announcement, twice mentioned the tax hikes, which are considered to be the measure's greatest vulnerability among voters. The labor groups this time are unusual allies with anti-tax groups, who typically fight union causes.
"This is disappointing, since those who we hurt the most should Propositions 1A through 1F not pass will be teachers, schools and the hard-working families of SEIU," said Julie Soderlund, spokeswoman for Budget Reform Now, proponents of the six budget-related ballot measures. "During these tough economic times, it is unfair to do anything that will likely cost many people their jobs."
Proposition 1A is tied to Proposition 1B, a separate proposal that requires the state to give schools additional payments totaling $9.3 billion starting in 2011-12.
The California Federation of Teachers is a smaller union than CTA and represents 120,000 education employees. CFT supports Proposition 1B, despite the fact that it will fail unless Proposition 1A passes.
Schwarzenegger, during a press conference in Fresno, said he pays no attention to the opposition and believes "momentum is going our way."
Call Kevin Yamamura, Bee Capitol Bureau, (916) 326-5548.
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