Whereas, the election of Donald Trump poses an existential threat not only to public education, but to American democracy; and

Whereas, one response of the California state government has been to hold a special legislative session in order to deliberate how best to respond to the threat; and

Whereas, its emphasis is to create a $25 million legal fund to protect California from federal assaults in court; and

Whereas, the Legislature’s nonpartisan fiscal adviser projects that the state budget will face increasing deficits in the years ahead, which will force cuts to education and social services desperately needed by the people of the state; and

Whereas, Governor Newsom has made it clear that he will not consider any tax increase on big corporations or the wealthiest Californians, leaving no options other than reductions in services, and

Whereas, California is home to one quarter of the country’s billionaires, who since the beginning of the pandemic have nearly doubled their wealth, and just the ten wealthiest Californians together possess three quarters of a trillion dollars; and

Whereas, California continues to be the richest state in the richest country in the world, but due to growing economic inequality fails to distribute its wealth in the form of public services, including public education, in an equitable manner; and

Whereas, $25 million for legal expenses is just the beginning of a proportionate response to the threats we face; and

Whereas, CFT has historically led the state labor movement and education community in progressive tax advocacy; and

Whereas, the only serious and sensible way forward for the state to protect itself against threats by the President to withhold or cut federal funds to California for education, immigration aid, health care and the environment is to raise taxes on the largest businesses and wealthiest Californians; and

Whereas, if Gavin Newsom is unwilling to consider any progressive tax, he should be continuously revealed in public as standing in the way of meeting the needs of the working-class majority of the state,

Therefore, be it resolved, that CFT will call for a substantial tax to be raised, based on three principles: creates the most revenue, from the most progressive source, with the greatest likelihood of passage and implementation; and

Be it further resolved, that the CFT will ask the Education Coalition, the California Federation of Labor Unions, and the national AFT to sign on to this call; and

Be it further resolved, that CFT will send a letter to Governor Newsom, copied to every state legislator and send as a press release to news outlets, demanding that the state government devise and implement such a tax, with the revenue to be delivered to public education and vital social services; and

Be it finally resolved, that CFT make this a high priority campaign for 2025 and if necessary for the foreseeable future.

Submitted by the Labor and Climate Justice Education Committee