Monterey Bay Forum

DrCameronJackson@gmail.com

A woman recently wrote poignantly, Put my disabled son on Death’s Row in San Quintin and he will get three square meals, medical care and perhaps even a room with a view… The woman wrote in response to the proposed $568.6 million cut in money allocated for the 246,000 disabled in California served under the Lanterman Act.

The woman’s feelings are understandable given that it costs taxpayers $50 to 70 K per inmate in CA prison compared to the cost to care for each disabled person. Run the math ($4 billion in CA budget allocated last year divided by 246,000 disabled persons equals $16,260 spent per disabled person).

Maybe it’s time to put the family of each disabled person served by CA regional centers in the driver’s seat. Why not have vouchers that follow each disabled person — akin to school vouchers — that give families choice? That way people will become knowledgeable as what things cost and more empowered by making the choices they think best. (more…)

What is BROKE California going to do? How is the legislature going to make a realistic budget with no decent projections of income? Make cuts across the board is best solution. Question: how to best keep a pulse on what is happening in Sacramento? Wish I knew.

Vote YES on IA if you want 2 EXTRA years of actual income, sales and vehicle tax increases. Vote NO on IA if you believe the legislative analyst – who says the measure is incomprehensible.

Vote YES on IB if you want a multi-billion increase in education spending. Vote NO on IB if you dislike the grip of unions on government. In California, 57 percent of government workers are unionized compared to 37 percent nationally. CA teachers make 25 % more than elsewhere and are highest paid in nation.

Vote YES on IC if you want more people buying CA lottery tickets. Vote NO in IC if concerned about the poor – who overwhelmingly buy the bulk of all lottery tickets. Vote NO if gambling money away is particularly bad during these economic times.

Vote YES on ID which grabs the tobacco money. Vote NO on ID because that tobacco money currently is dedicated to children’s services which you do not want cut.

Vote YES on IE which takes the so-called millionaire tax money. Vote NO on IE because that money is currently dedicated to health services. Vote NO because The biggest cut in Santa Cruz County will be the health services. Vote NO because swine flu, T.B and other infectious diseases must be kept in check.