With a $24 billion budget shortfall, the Legislature faces tough choices.  But they do have choices.

While Governor Schwarzenegger claims the only way to balance the budget is by slashing funding for education, health care, public safety and other vital services, a handful of large corporations are poised to recieve significant tax giveaways which will wind up costing the state nearly $10 billion over the next five years.

These egregious corporate tax breaks have no value to the state or the majority of its businesses, and do nothing to help create jobs or soften the economic blow so many families are facing. That money could be used instead to help keep teachers in the classroom, public safety personnel on duty, infrastructure projects moving, and state parks open.

Fairness dictates that everyone shares in the pain, and that should include some of the world’s wealthiest corporations. The decision to keep tax loopholes open and make cuts instead is a conscious choice, and it’s one that legislators should be held accountable for making. Before considering additional cuts to programs Californians care so deeply about, the California Legislature needs to act now to shut down these unfair, unnecessary corporate tax giveaways. 

Take a minute to send a message to your legislators today, and urge them to repeal the unfair corporate tax giveaways before making any more cuts to the state's vital programs and services.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

There must be no more budget cuts until corporate tax cuts are shut down. The most recent corporate tax breaks give away billions every year, permanently, to a handful of the world's largest corporations.

These times are challenging. We understand that the Legislature is facing tough choices. But there are choices. These unnecessary corporate tax giveaways could be used instead to help keep teachers in the classroom, public safety personnel on duty, infrastructure projects moving, and our treasured state parks open. It would mean fewer of our most vulnerable citizens - children, seniors and the disabled - go without the services they desperately need.

These egregious giveaways have no value to the state or the majority of its businesses. Tax cuts like the elective single sales factor not only weaken our state in the current crisis, they will create a bigger budget gap in future years. And these tax giveaways do nothing to help create jobs or soften the economic blow so many families are facing.

Fairness dictates that everyone shares in the pain. And that includes some of the world's wealthiest corporations. As a concerned Californian, I'm urging you to shut down these corporate tax giveaways before considering additional cuts to essential state programs.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
June 09, 2009