MY NAME IS MARTY HITTELMAN AND I AM PRESIDENT OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE COUNCIL OF THE CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS AND A PROFESSOR OF MATHEMATICS AT LOS ANGELES VALLEY COLLEGE.

THE CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS CALLS ON GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER TO END HIS WAR ON EDUCATION AND STATE WORKERS, NURSES, FIREFIGHTERS, AND PEACE OFFICERS AND ON THE UNIONS THAT REPRESENT THEM.

WE CALL ON THE GOVERNOR TO HELP CALIFORNIA LIVE UP TO THE DREAM EMBODIED IN THE MASTER PLAN FOR HIGHER EDUCATION. THAT DREAM INCLUDED AFFORDABLE HIGHER EDUCATION FOR ALL CALIFORNIANS.

OUR STATE GOVERNMENT ONCE UNDERSTOOD THE VALUE TO SOCIETY OF AN EDUCATED POPULACE. THAT EDUCATION WAS AN IMPORTANT INVESTMENT IN THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE OF OUR STATE.

TODAY THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES RANK 44TH IN THE NATION IN PER STUDENT FUNDING. IN THE LAST FEW YEARS WE HAVE LOST HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS AS A RESULT OF LIMITED FUNDING AND INCREASED FEES. IN ONE YEAR ALONE WE LOST OVER 150,000 STUDENTS. THIS IS MORE THAN THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE ENTIRE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SYSTEM. LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN, IN ONE YEAR OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGES LOST MORE STUDENTS THAN WERE ENROLLED IN THE ENTIRE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SYSTEM.

TODAY IN THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES, ALMOST TWO-THIRDS OF THE FACULTY ARE TEMPORARY PART-TIME EMPLOYEES. THEY ARE PAID AT HALF THE COMPARABLE SALARY OF FULL-TIME FACULTY FOR THE SAME WORK AND ARE OFTEN WITHOUT ANY HEALTH CARE COVERAGE. UNDER THIS GOVERNOR, FUNDS USED TO PARTIALLY ADDRESS THESE ABUSES HAVE NOT BEEN FULLY FUNDED. WE CALL ON THE GOVERNOR TO INCREASE THE FUNDING TO SUPPORT EQUITY PAY, HEALTH CARE, AND PAID OFFICE HOURS FOR OUR EXPLOITED PART-TIME FACULTY. IT IS ONLY RIGHT.

THE GOVERNOR IS SUPPORTING A BALLOT INITIATIVE THAT WILL SLASH $4 BILLION DOLLARS FROM THE EXISTING LEGALLY GUARANTEED FUNDING TO KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES. HE HAS ALREADY SUSPENDED THE PROPOSITION 98 GUARANTEE THIS YEAR AND WANTS TO DO IT AGAIN. HE HAS ALSO PROPOSED ELIMINATING FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS LIKE HEAD START, SCHOOL-TO-CAREER COUNSELING AND STATE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STATE TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM. WE MUST DEFEAT THESE EFFORTS.

THE SPECIAL ELECTION THAT GOVERNOR CON MAN AND HIS BARBARIANS ARE SUPPORTING WOULD COST THE STATE $80 MILLION. ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY THE SALARIES OF OVER 2,300 TEACHERS, OR TO PAY FOR 4 MILLION UP-T0-DATE TEXTBOOKS, OR ADDRESS THE DECLINING NUMBER OF FULL-TIME FACULTY IN THE UC, CSU, AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEMS.

AND WHILE I’M ON THE SUBJECT OF WASTING MONEY, LET’S NOT OVERLOOK THE DRAINING OF OUR COUNTRIES RESOURCES, HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO DATE, ON THE UNWARRANTED AND DESTRUCTIVE WAR THAT THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION IS WAGING IN IRAQ. THE BILLION DOLLARS BEING SPENT EVERY FOUR DAYS IN IRAQ COULD BE USED TO ELIMINATE ALL FEES FOR PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO ADDRESS THE HEALTH CARE CRISIS OR TO ADDRESS ANY NUMBER OF OTHER SOCIAL NEEDS.

THE CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS AND ITS COMMUNITY COLLEGE COUNCIL JOIN WITH ALL OF YOU HERE TO CALL FOR A GOVERNOR (AND A PRESIDENT) THAT WILL STAND UP TO THE REAL SPECIAL INTERESTS - THE CORPORATE POLLUTERS, THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES AND HEALTH CARE CORPORATIONS, THE OIL COMPANIES AND INSURANCE COMPANIES, THE WALMARTS THAT ARE DESTROYING OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND OUR FUTURES. WE CALL ON THE GOVERNOR (AND THE PRESIDENT) TO FIGHT FOR ALL OF US. WE WANT A CALIFORNIA AND A COUNTRY THAT SUPPORTS ALL OF ITS RESIDENTS.

IN THE FAMOUS WORDS OF OLIVER HARDY OF LAUREL AND HARDY FAME: “WHY DON’T YOU DO SOMETHING TO HELP US?”