CALIFORNIA''S BUDGET

Governor Brown has suggested that we can stop draconian cuts to the state's funding of colleges, health care, disabled care and schools by continuing the vehicle license tax and the slight increase in sales tax. THIS IS NOT A NEW TAX. It is an extension of taxes that we are already paying.

CUTS THAT will hurt the poor, the ill and students, may be the only alternative if California Republican legislators continue to REFUSE to extend or increase taxes.

At the moment, I honestly would not mind if the Republicans voted themselves into oblivion. But the cost to the most vulnerable of California's citizens is just too high.

So please call, write, email, twitter, or fax, your California State Assemblyperson and Senator. It is especially important to call the Republicans. Tell them that you are in favor of Governor Brown's tax extensions. Tell them that you do not want further cost cutting in the state budget.

I believe that very few of us are really so selfish that we would insist that the programs for the sick, the poor, and for students, be cut so we can have very slightly lower taxes.