Statement from SEIU Local 1021 President Damita Davis Howard Regarding Governor Schwarzenegger's Budget Cuts

San Francisco - SEIU Local 1021 President Damita Davis Howard released the following statement today in response to Governor Schwarzenegger's devastating budget proposal. SEIU Local 1021 represents 54,000 Bay Area health care and service workers and their families.

"We would have never guessed in January, when Governor Schwarzenegger stood as our partner in expanding health care coverage to millions, that he would turn around and take away health care for millions more.

"To balance the budget on the backs of the working poor is unacceptable. These are the California families who cannot afford groceries and go hungry. They cannot afford a one bedroom apartment in a safe neighborhood so they share and live everyday in fear. They can barely afford bus fare. Yet the cost for food, fuel, bus fare and rent is on the rise and Governor Schwarzenegger takes away the one thing they do have - the ability to see a doctor and pay for medicine.

"And it's not just those families who will lose the MediCal coverage they rely on that we are concerned about. It's the millions more on the verge. As we saw in a recent Field Poll the majority of Californians are very concerned they won't be able to get the health care they need.

"In Governor Schwarzenegger's California, they are right to be scared.

"SEIU's 701,000 members across California will fight these cuts to MediCal now. We will lead California to pass health care reform. And next year, we will lead a movement across this nation to pass health care reform in Washington D.C."

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