FACULTY GIVE ASSEMBLY REPUBLICANS AN ‘F’ ON BUDGET

Fed up with budget gridlock at the Capitol that is undermining public higher education, CFA launched an ad campaign this week aimed at Republican candidates in four Assembly districts who are toeing the all-cuts-budget line. The ads would support Democrats in order to gain the so-called supermajority – the 2/3 vote -- needed in the legislature to adopt a state budget. “At this point, we need to stop the small group of Republicans in the legislature who seem determined to take our public institutions hostage, slash the state’s public education system and burn our economic future,” said Lillian Taiz, CFA President and a history professor at Cal State Los Angeles. Taiz continued, “Simply put, the Assembly Republicans are failing and so they get an F. As educators, it is our responsibility to make sure voters understand why they get an F and why this pattern of leadership in Sacramento cannot continue.” The campaign – modeled on CFA’s effective 2006 “F-Arnold” campaign – consists of radio, TV and online ads that call out Republicans in Sacramento for blocking a budget compromise thereby causing deep cuts in education that will have a long-term negative impact on the state’s economy. The ads tie four GOP Assembly candidates running for open seats — AD10 (R-Jack Sieglock), AD30 (R-Danny Gilmore), AD78 (R-John McCann), and AD80 (R-Gary Jeandron) – to the current Republican Leadership in Sacramento.

To view the ads online, go to: http://www.youtube.com/FlunkingRepublicans

To view CFA President Taiz’ opinion piece on the campaign, go to: http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2008/08/california_facu.html