Since the Governor released his proposed budget in January 2004 we have taken many important steps to educate and lobby the legislature, build public and media support, and organize workers and clients to put pressure on the administration.

We have completed a comprehensive budget analysis of the Governor's proposals to demonstrate on paper that the cuts will not save money but they will increase costs to the state, hurt the economy and lower the quality of care under the IHSS program. We also include concrete proposals to save money and help close the budget gap without hurting seniors and people with disabilities. Please look at our budget analysis to see the work that has been done so far.

Along with our Secretary-Treasurer, Fahari Jeffers, and our lobbyists, I have already met with 79 out of 120 Senators and Assemblymembers, as well as the County Welfare Directors Association, the County Supervisors Association, the Urban Counties Caucus, the Rural Counties Caucus, the Public Authority Association, the Secretary of Health and Welfare, the Department of Finance, the Senate and Assembly Budget Committees, the Legislative Analyst and, today, I met Governor Schwarzenegger directly. We have a lot more work to do, the budget process is just now heating up and won't be over until July, but I am convinced that if we remain strong and united and continue to organize, lobby and speak out, we will defeat these proposals and use this opportunity to bring positive reforms to the IHSS program.

We're making a difference: Thousands of UDW members across California have made calls to the Governor's office through our toll free number 1-888-570-5589 and written letters explaining how their lives would be affected if the cuts became law. Over 250 UDW workers and clients attended the home care workers rally in Sacramento on January 14th coordinated with our partners in SEIU; hundreds of UDW members and supporters participated in a series of press conferences and rallies on February 26 held in San Diego, San Bernardino, Stockton, Alameda, Los Angeles and Sacramento. We have generated dozens of excellent news articles across the state in February, March and April that help portray the lives of the people whose services and safety will be destroyed by these cuts, and we are building a strong base of support among Democrats and Republicans in the legislature.

Our message is very clear: IHSS saves money, IHSS saves lives and cutting IHSS will eliminate an important safety net, put thousands of lives at risk, throw people out of work and force many elderly and disabled individuals into much more expensive hospitals and nursing homes. These cuts are bad for clients, bad for workers and bad for the California economy. That is our message and it is gaining strength.

I met Governor Schwarzenegger today. It was a brief introduction but he was very cordial, very friendly and very open to hearing from us. We talked a short while about our union, what our members do and what our issue is. We will have to meet with the Governor and his staff further to press our case and educate him about the IHSS program. But you can be assured that by the time Governor Schwarzenegger signs the budget and makes his final decisions he will know UDW, he will know IHSS, and he will know you and our cause!

Please continue to make your phone calls and send your letters to keep the IHSS issue on the Governor's mind. We have to work together and we have to fight together - and when we do -- we will win together!