Paid for by Californians for Protecting Public Education, Health Care and Budget Stability, Sponsored by Teachers, Health Care Providers, Doctors and Labor Organizations. Major funding by California Hospitals Committee on Issues, (CHCI) Sponsored by California Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (CAHHS) and California Teachers Association/Issues PAC (committee).

Proposition 30 Stopped Deeper Cuts to Education and Vital Services When voters passed Proposition 30 in 2012, California was suffering massive education cuts, tens of thousands of teacher layoffs, larger classes, and the elimination of art, music, and other classes Public education lost $50 billion in funding that will never be paid back, billions in cuts to health care and other critical services Without Prop 30, California would have faced another $6 billion in cuts in 2013 alone Internal Document Only

Proposition 30 Funds Have Made a Difference in Our Schools and Beyond Prop 30 has helped public education restore some of the funds it lost during the recession – but just starting to get back on track Prop 30 has generated more than $31 billion (and counting) With Prop 30 funds, our public schools have rehired teachers and education support professionals, brought additional books and supplies directly to the classroom, re-opened school libraries and stabilized tuition rates at community colleges – all of which will be at risk if we don’t extend the current taxes on the wealthiest. Internal Document Only

What is Proposition 55? Proposition 55, the California Children’s Education and Health Care Protection Act of 2016 maintains the current income tax rates on the wealthiest Californians for 12 more years – couples earning more than $500,000 a year and singles earning more than $250,000. Working, middle class families and businesses will benefit as the quarter-cent sales tax increase that was part of Proposition 30 expires as planned at the end of the year. Prop. 55 will generate an average of $8 billion per year. Revenues go into the Education Protection Account, a dedicated fund that directs monies to K-12 public schools and community colleges. Revenues will also be used to improve access to health care for low-income children and their families, and money will go to the Rainy Day Fund. The initiative includes strict accountability requirements. Internal Document Only

Campaign Messaging Internal Document Only

SUMMARY California students, schools and colleges can’t afford to go back to the days of massive teacher and staff layoffs, larger class sizes, and cuts to programs like art and music, and the state should protect other essential services. Proposition 55 maintains the current income tax rates on the wealthiest Californians who can most afford to pay, in order to prevent billions of dollars in funding cuts for public education and other vital services, like children’s health care. Money goes to local schools and state lawmakers can’t touch it. Proposition 55 contains strict accountability requirements to ensure funds designated for education go to classrooms, not to bureaucracy or administrative costs. Vote YES on Proposition 55 on November 8, 2016 because our children and schools matter most. Internal Document Only

Proposition 55 Protects our Students and Public Schools from Returning to the Days of Massive Budget Cuts, Educator Layoffs, Larger Classes and Tuition Hikes California public school funding was cut to the bone during the recession 30,000 teacher layoffs, student programs eliminated, and larger classes. 50,000 educators laid off. Public schools are just starting to recover from those cuts Funding will help address teacher shortage Governor Brown has said that the state will be forced to make cuts if Proposition 55 doesn’t pass. Internal Document Only

Proposition 55 Does Not Raise Taxes on Anyone, the Wealthiest Will Continue Paying the Same Amount they are Now to Protect Schools and Vital Services from Deep Cuts This is not a tax increase. Proposition 55 only affects the wealthiest Californians who can most afford it. Budget forecasts project schools will lose $4 billion without extension. We cannot go back to the days of budget instability for our public schools and other vital services in California Internal Document Only

Maintaining Current Income Tax Rates on the Wealthy will Improve Access to Health Care Programs, Including those for Low-Income Children Everyone deserves access to quality healthcare, not just the wealthiest Californians. Up to $2 billion in funds per year go to health care for low-income children. Improving access to quality health care for low-income children will help them come to school healthy and ready to learn. Internal Document Only

Strict Accountability Ensures Californians Know Exactly How the Money is Spent Strict accountability and transparency requirements ensure funds designated for education go to classrooms, not to bureaucracy or administrative costs. Dedicated fund for education – the Legislature can’t touch it. Local control over school funding decisions, local school budgets identify how money is spent and subject to audits. Internal Document Only

Key addition to General Messages: Real Stories and Examples Localize and humanize what the funds have meant and what’s at risk. Organizational or personal examples about cuts made during recession, what could be lost if cuts were made again. Demonstrate how the money was spent and that it was spent well. Internal Document Only

More About the Measure What does the measure do and who does it impact? Only affects the wealthiest Californians who can most afford it. No tax increases. Wealthiest will continue paying same amount they are now to spare education from deep cuts. The sales tax increase expires as planned this year. What will be the impact on schools? Prevents $4 billion in cuts. What does it do for health care? Up to $2 billion a year to improve access for low-income children. Tough audit transparency requirements. Broad & diverse coalition in support. Internal Document Only