If you watch CA politics you are very nervous right now.
Arnold ("Bushism with a friendly face") Schwarzenegger has proposed a special election ballot laden with toxic right-wing initiatives.
It's a clear attempt to change the power structure in this state forever--which is bad, bad news for our country.
One proposal, a Congression redistricting measure, would make Schwarzenegger our own Tom DeLay and could give the Reps up to 5 new seats in Congress.
Another, the 'paycheck deception' initiative, would make it much harder for nurses and other union employees to raise money for political purpose. This would tilt the playing field even further to corporations.
Oh--and as a sweetener to the right-wing, there are initiatives to restrict choice, let Schwarzenegger unilaterally cut education and healthcare funding, and a giveaway to the pharmaceutical companies to boot.
Is it any wonder Grover Norquist told the San Jose Mercury News, "The resources will be there to win this fight."
Schwarzenegger's only problem--the nurses, teachers, patients, students, firefighters, and progressive activists who bring their message to the streets, the people, and the media.
We're winning so far, but Schwarzenegger's corporate buddies are putting together at leas $100 million to win this fight. They must be stopped now.
Please come help June 22 if you're able to get to Menlo Park, Ca-near San Francisco. Schwarzenegger is having his first public fundraiser since he announced the special and the people will be there to greet--and denounce--him. Details below. Let me know if you have any questions.
Shum Preston
spreston@calnurses.org
510 273 2276
www.calnurses.org
MEDIA ADVISORY June 14, 2005
Contact: Shum Preston, 510-273-2276 or Charles Idelson, 510-273-2246 or 415-559-8991
Nurses, Teachers, Firefighters `Greet' Schwarzenegger at Major Silicon Valley Corporate Fundraiser
Corporate Donors Funding `Special Election' to Cut Social Service & Silence Workers
Menlo Park, CA - Registered Nurses from the California Nurses Association (CNA), as well as teachers, firefighters, and other working people from across Northern California will lead a protest against Governor Schwarzenegger's corporate fundraising and pro-corporate ballot initiatives next Wednesday, June 22.
In recent weeks, Schwarzenegger has largely gone underground to avoid the constant protests by the people of California, but is re-surfacing to raise money for the initiatives he is sponsoring on his Nov. 8 special election. These include measures to give the Governor unilateral power to make cutbacks in the healthcare, education, and social services budget, and to silence the voices of Registered Nurses and other public employees in political and policy debates.
The protest will start at 4 pm, while inside the fundraiser runs from 5:00 to 6:30. Tickets are $2500 each. At 6:30, Schwarzenegger will travel to a fundraiser hosted by Cisco and Yahoo executives, with a $25,000 ticket price.
When: Wednesday, June 22, 4 p.m.
Where: Stanford Park Hotel
100 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, CA
Gather at 4:00 pm in front of the hotel.
Ample parking across the street at the Stanford Shopping Mall.
What: RNs, Teachers, Firefighters, Other Working People Protest Schwarzenegger's Corporate Fundraising
The California Nurses Association is the nation's largest and fastest-growing professional association of nurses, with approximately 60,000 members in 165 facilities.