There's nowhere left to cut

Re "Budget plan splits coalition for education" (Capitol & California, Dec. 1): During its nearly 30 years of existence, the Education Coalition, including parents, teachers, administrators, school employees, school board members and others, has stood united to protect school funding and to fight for California's students.

That's why it's important to set the record straight about Dan Walters' column.

In fact, issues surrounding school funding flexibility are not new and have never managed to change the coalition's unwavering position that our schools need stable, ongoing revenues to ensure that students have the resources they need to succeed.

Providing flexibility without adequate funding raises false hope that schools can do more with even fewer resources, while the real crisis facing our students is potentially billions more in cuts to classrooms.

School funding could be cut by $8 billion in 2008-09 if lawmakers don't vote for new revenues. Our state already has some of the most overcrowded classrooms and the greatest shortages of librarians, counselors and other critical support staff in the nation, ranking 46th out of 50 states in per-pupil funding. There is simply nowhere left to cut.

That's why lawmakers urgently need to support increasing revenues to invest in our students and California's future.

– Pam Brady, Sacramento

president, California State PTA

Legislators fiddle while ...

Re "Freshmen start with red ink" (Capitol & California, Dec. 2): Nero fiddled while Rome burned, but he was a piker compared with our leaders in Sacramento, sitting on their hands while California drowns in red ink. Why doesn't Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's list of budget cuts include any of the 120 gridlocking legislators who have led us down this rat hole? Wouldn't 60 people suffice to not do the job?

– Robb Willis, McKinleyville

Start a dialogue on AIDS

Re "Our country is failing the AIDS test" (Daily Debate, Dec. 2):

The topic of AIDS and AIDS prevention is one that has taken a back seat in America. If ever we do hear about it, it is usually linked to Africa or other undeveloped areas of the world.

Many Americans feel that AIDS is a problem abroad and associate it with previous decades, even though it continues to be a top health risk.

The problem, I believe, stems from the taboos associated with all sexually transmitted diseases.

I believe that until Americans can have an open dialogue about AIDS, the problem will not go away. So I applaud The Bee and all media for trying to begin this dialogue.

– Christian Gutierrez, Chico

Sustain Healthy Families program

Lack of creativity, not a lack of money, is threatening health care coverage for more than 160,000 children.

Like most of the state's health care safety net, California's Healthy Families program for uninsured children in low-income families is facing the budget ax. The program's bureaucracy, acknowledging a $17.2 million shortfall, recently declared that the only way to stop the hemorrhage is to close enrollment Dec. 18 and start a waiting list for the 27,000 new enrollees each month.

I'm frustrated that these "solutions" give no better alternative than creating a waiting list for the medical, dental and vision needs of children without resources.

There is a better way. Reallocate First 5 commission money mandated by voters to support children's health care and fund Healthy Families instead of subsidizing cartoon shows, neighborhood parties and craft workshops.

Instead of shutting the doors of Healthy Families to California's kids, make the program financially sustainable by reforming its design to promote good care based on health needs, not political expediency.

Instead of "one size fits all" benefits that include acupuncture, biofeedback and inpatient drug rehab, Healthy Families should allow parents to choose plans that better fit their needs at a lower cost.

– Sam Aanestad,

state senator, 4th District