Posted on 03/09/2005 12:36:22 PM PST by Slicksadick
Dear PTA Members:
Yesterday at our Harbor Council PTA meeting, we discussed signing initiatives without studying the issues. We were asked that to warn PTA members not to sign the initiatives without studying the issues carefully. Those that ask you to sign do not know the issues; this is a strategic plan to overwhelm the voters so that the Governor can then "tell" the voters which initiatives to study and vote on.
Here is some interesting information give to me by Katrina Foley, Leg. rep at Sonora Elementary.
Today is Tuesday, March 8th. The deadline for filing signatures for the special election is May 1st. Gov. Schwarzenegger pays each person $5 who receives a signature in support of the special election and his proposed initiatives. We have 8 weeks to interrupt the signature gatherers and save California from paying $70 million for a special election.
We have to ask why the Governor won't give back the $2 billion he borrowed from last year's education budget, and why he won't fully fund education............he doesn't seem to bat an eye at putting out an unnecessary $70 million for a special election.
Please educate your PTA members about the initiative process. While it is a good process, it can be used for a harmful purpose, also.
Patty Christiansen, VP--Advocacy
BTTT
Signature gatherers are not paid with public money - and I don't believe the PTA has made that claim in this letter. However, they are wrong in one respect: the going rate is around $1 signature.
I read this as the PTA believes he's spending state monies. You could be right though.
"I don't believe that Arnold is allowed to spend state funds to gather signatures. Is this the case?"
This is not true.
GVGirl, since you are involved in gathering signatures, could you please provide more info and reassurance here?
Here is an organization which is gathering signatures for Arnold's initiatives, but they are NOT funded with state funds.
http://www.citizenstosaveca.org/
Thank you. It seems the local teachers union is telling tales again.
$5 a signature!!!?? Where do I sign up to collect them!!??
$5 a signature!!!?? Where do I sign up to collect them!!??
The PTA has become a "handmaiden" of the CTA. When my kids were in school, the PTA actually represented parents.
"Here is some interesting information give to me by Katrina Foley, Leg. rep at Sonora Elementary."
Aside from poor grammar, does anyone else take umbrage at an elementary school having a leg. (legislative?) rep?
Someone better tell Patty that it's against the law, under California Elections Code Division 18, Chapter 7, Articles 3, 4, and others; to "interrupt" or otherwise interfere with signature gathering for a lawfully-filed initiative petition. If nobody tells her, she might wind up in jail.
But, on second thought...
LOL very good!!!!
This statement is pure BS. Education is actually overfunded in California and the cost of education is a major reason why this state is headed for painful across-the-board budget cuts. California spends $9,500 per year on each K-12 student. (Number from Tom McClintock's website.) The full cost of classroom teachers for each student is only about $3,000 per year. So there's $6,500 per student in overhead expenses for facilities, equipment, and massive administrative costs. The buildings and equipment used in schools are not very expensive on a per student basis, so most of the $6,500 in overhead is going for excessive administrative overhead, especially at the district headquarters and in Sacramento. If I were you, I would talk to this teacher and give her these numbers. Then ask why there are such massive overhead expenses in the California public schools. This is a big reason why California is rapidly going bankrupt.
Interrupting a signature gatherer is a felony.
The techniques that are in use to try to block the gathering of signatures.
1. Sign using a fake name and address.
2. Sign the petition many times in one area.
3. Act like a paid signature gatherer and get the signatures but never turn them in.
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