Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected governor of California last Fall when he inspired millions of Californians with his anti-government message and the appeal of his glamorous Hollywood persona. He received a significant number of votes from members of SEIU Local 1000, the state workers.

Gov. Schwarzenegger's budget proposals have not rewarded state workers for their votes. The governor's proposals focus on decreasing state services, reducing state government, and cutbacks for state employees. If enacted, these measures would negatively impact the most vulnerable in California, as well as decrease the availability of the state services citizens have come to expect.

SEIU wants to work with the governor and legislature to find smart solutions to California's budgetary woes -- smart solutions that will trim the fat, find new revenue, and maintain vital state services.

It was not that many years ago that California's infrastructure, our schools, highways, and our social programs were among the best in the nation. Now in many categories, we compete for lowest ranking with a handful of southern states. Perhaps by working together with this popular governor we can reverse this race to the bottom.

To start the process, SEIU Locals are organizing their members to bring concerns about proposed service cuts to California legislators. On April 21st, about fifty members of SEIU Local 1000 visited their legislators at the state Capitol to stand up for state services