Rallying against health care cuts

SAN DIEGO--About 40 people attended a noon rally and press conference in front of the California State Building here on June 10. The event, called by the church-oriented San Diego Organizing Project, SEIU Local 221, the Council of Community Clinics (CCC) and other organizations, opposed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's devastating budget proposals.

Schwarzenegger wants to eliminate the Healthy Families and CALWORKS programs, lower MediCal reimbursements and slash the wages of home care workers.

Gary Rotto of the CCC called this "an unprecedented attack on health care." Dr. Ted Mazer pointed out that the cuts would mean that "health care will be sought at the most expensive point of care--emergency rooms...In the end, it costs the state more."

Aida Reyes of the Supportive Parents' Information Network said, "We're fighting just to survive...If we don't stand together, we are all guilty." Protester Rose Martinez said she suffers from diabetes, glaucoma, neuropathy and other ailments, and said she feared that the state was "going to cut me off."

Coalition building for future actions is continuing, with a call for a rally and civil disobedience on June 30.