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Sacramento – The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of California today announced its endorsement of Proposition 30, the Schools and Local Public Safety Protection Act.
The organization supports the raising of revenues to counter the onslaught of multiple years of cuts to public education, court closures, and erosion of the state’s social services safety-net.
“We typically stay out of tax-related frays,” said Brooks Allen, ACLU of California director of education advocacy, “but we believe that everything from a student’s right to an education to the access of all Californians to justice through the courts is now at risk. After years of cuts, California's public schools, universities, and vital social services are at the breaking point. We have to take a stand for increased revenues. This measure is a step in the right direction for a more stable and secure California.”
Prop 30 would bring $6 to 9 billion dollars of much needed revenue each year by temporarily increasing personal income taxes on the highest earners – couples with incomes over $500,000 a year -- and temporarily raises the sales tax by 1/4 of a cent, a rate lower than it was last year. This additional state revenue would protect funding for education and vital services. Without Prop 30’s passage, California K-12 schools, community colleges and universities face an automatic $6 billion in additional devastating cuts this year.
To protect schools, universities, and social services from more cuts, the ACLU of California joins with a growing coalition of education, business, labor, public safety, and community organizations throughout the state in supporting Prop 30.
