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THE LATEST PICO NEWS

PICO California Leaders to Hold Prayer Rally for Health Reform

Thousands of PICO clergy and leaders from across the country are organizing a nationwide Faith-Based Day of Action for Health Reform this Tuesday August 11th. The goal is to increase the pressure on Congress to pass comprehensive health care reform legislation as early as this year.

With the future of health care reform legislation on the line during the August Congressional recess, leaders are making it clear that the faith-based community of voters see health reform as a moral issue, and will hold their Members of Congress responsible for how well they look out for the lives of people and not just special interests.

This campaign will include coordinated, same-day Prayer Vigils and Press Conferences in cities and towns across the country that will reach 100+ Members of Congress with a strong, Pro-Heath Care Reform message organized by national faith groups, including PICO National Network, Faith in Public Life, Sojourners, and Catholic in Alliance for the Common Good. To find out more about our National Campaign, go to www.coverallfamilies.org.

Click Here to find your nearest event.

PICO Leaders Contact the Governor's Office to Express Outrage Over Cuts to Healthy Families

1 million kids are in danger of losing health care this year because of Governor Schwarzenegger's decision to make even more cuts to Healthy Families than the previous budget agreement. He "blue penciled" an additional $50 million in cuts to the program, meaning that Healthy Families will lose $178 million. The program had already instituted a waitlist and soon children will start to be disenrolled from the program.

On August 3rd - 4th, PICO leaders and staff from across the state called the Governor's office to express outrage over his cuts to Healthy Families and to hold him accountable for his actions. Governor Schwarzenegger ran on covering all kids, but now he has instituted the biggest cut to kids' health in California history, all while making sure that prison funding was largely protected. Earlier this year, he proposed the total elimination of the Healthy Families Program.

Contact your local PICO Organization to see what you can do to help.

More Information
Deep Cuts Threaten to Reshape California, The New York Times, May 30, 2009
'Shock and Awe' Over California Cuts, CNN, May 28, 2009
Governor's Budget Ax Poised Over Children's Health Programs The Sacramento Bee, May 28, 2009

Click here to see how many children would lose coverage in your county and how much state and federal funds would be lost.

PICO Leaders Rally in Support of Healthy Families, Tells Governor: Don’t Leave Us Out in the Rain!

More than 200 PICO youth and parents from across the state marched to the State Capitol on Wednesday, June 16 to urge Governor Schwarzenegger to withdraw his proposal to cut or eliminate the Healthy Families Program. Youth speakers described how they cope with serious medical conditions and how their Healthy Families coverage has saved their lives.

Noting that it would only take 8% of the state's rainy day fund to pay for the entire Healthy Families Program, speakers urged the Governor not to hurt kids. Immediately following the event, youth leaders delivered banners created by children from cities throughout California to Governor Schwarzenegger's office.

Click here to view photos from the rally.

New Reports Details Economic Loss of Dropouts

New reports from the California Dropout Research Project detail the economic costs of dropouts to the State and to 17 cities throughout California. Compared to high school graduates, research documents that dropouts have: higher rates of unemployment; lower earnings; poorer health and higher rates of mortality; higher rates of criminal behavior and incarceration; and increased dependence on public assistance. These generate substantial economic losses to the nation, to the state, and to local communities.

Throughout California, PICO affiliates are organizing to increase graduation rates and to create safer communities that provide hope and opportunities for youth. These new reports make clear that everyone suffers when students drop out of school.

Click here to read the report and click here to see city-specific data.
Click here to read news coverage of Oakland and San Jose PICO affiliates organizing work to increase graduation rates.