Rally in San Francisco features sign referring to Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes' famous remark on taxes; CFT Vice President Ed Murray (green shirt) who told the large and boisterous crowd that his ESL students are being hurt by the governor's proposed budget; and social services providers, disabled activists, advocates for children, including Corean Todd of Parent Voices (with mic), and Linda Leu of Health Access.  Fred Glass and Sandra Weese, photos

July 15, 2009 — Taking on the governor and legislators who refuse responsibility for a humane California state budget, education and social services advocates rallied across the state today.  In Sacramento, Fresno, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, thousands of people protested the upside down priorities of Arnold Schwarzenegger, telling him, "Governor, don't let California go up in smoke!"

This is the governor who deliberately misinterpreted the results of the special election in May as a justification for the enormous pain he is planning to inflict on students, teachers, school support staff, the disabled, seniors, children, saying it was a mandate by the people of California against taxes. Exit polling showed that a majority of the "no" vote came from people who wanted to protect education and social services, and wanted the rich and corporations to pay fair taxes to make that happen.

This is the governor who told a reporter last week, "Whatever happens, I will sit down in my Jacuzzi tonight. I'm going to lay back with a stogie." That is not consoling news for the nearly one million children who will lose their health care under the governor's budget proposal.

To send the governor an email calling on him to raise taxes on the rich and corporations in order to save schools and public services, click here.