Barry Broad, Shane Gusman, and Libby Sanchez’s Letter to Conference Committee in Sacramento
Posted on June 13th, 2008 at 9:05 am, by JaniceYesterday, June 12th, 2008, our COCRA lobbyists gave the Conference Committee in Sacramento the letter copied below. Please take a moment to look it over. We know this letter, all the phone calls made to Senators Ducheny and Perata by deposition and official reporters, along with the visits COCRA board members are making today in Sacramento are helping us defeat this proposal to expand ER.
The troops have rallied, and it makes us proud…yeah, I know, we’ve already said that. But it’s true!
Being a court reporter is a profession to be very proud of. Remember all your days in school (up to four years) working on your speed and accuracy. Think of all the money you have spent on equipment, software, and supplies. Think about all the seminars you attend to learn more and improve your skills. Think of all the hours spent on nights and weekends working to produce an accurate and timely record that is cheaper to produce than using an uncertified, untrained typist who is going to charge more than we charge.
Enjoy the letter. And thank you, Libby, Barry, and Shane, for the time you have spent for our cause and for this fabulous letter!
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To: All Members of the Legislative Budget Conference Committee
From: Barry Broad
Shane Gusman
Libby Sanchez
Date: June 12, 2008
Subject: Judicial Branch – 0250 – REJECT SENATE ACTIONS
ADOPT ASSEMBLY ACTIONS
Clients: IFPTE Local 21
Strategic Committee of Public Employees, LIUNA
San Diego Court Employees Association
California Official Court Reporters Association
The above labor unions representing court employees in San Francisco, Riverside and San Diego and the California Official Court Reporters Association, representing court reporters throughout the state urge the conference committee to reject the senate actions taken by Senate Budget Sub Committee # 4 related to the Judicial Branch (0250) and urge the conference committee instead to adopt the actions taken by Assembly Budget Sub Committee # 4.
Court reporters provide an invaluable service, a service which can not be duplicated by electronic recording. We are very concerned about Senate Subcommittee # 4 recommendation to expand Electronic Recording into the areas of family court, probate court, mental health court and in laws and motions proceedings. Not only will adoption of this recommendation not save money, instead it will result in substantial revenue losses due to the fact that court reporter user fees which are currently required to be collected will be lost.
We are equally concerned about the Senate proposals to cut the Judiciary budget which seem to hit the trial courts the hardest. Such cuts will dramatically impact the delivery services to consumers, bog down the judicial system and delay justice to Californians.
For the above reasons, we urge the Conference Committee to reject the Senate actions and adopt the Assembly actions related to the Judicial Branch (0250).
June 20th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Thank God for these guys looking out for our interests!
June 20th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Each union (several in California) and each of the three reporter organizations employ legislative advocates or lobbyists to represent our interests in the capitol. This knowledgeable, dedicated group works regularly to see that nothing slips by and to convince the legislature of the value of court reporters, while in many cases watching out for the interests of other court employees.
We rely on them to educate us as to the political process and keep us informed as to the current political climate and when it is right to make certain moves.
They all work in conjunction with one another to form a conduit between us and the legislature. They present a formidable front when challenged and they know their stuff!
Thanks to all of them. I’d like to name a few here that I know personally:
Libby Sanchez, Shane Guzman, Barry Broad; Michelle Castro; Willie Pelote, Michael Bolden;Pat Moran; Karen Keeslar; Bob Blough; Jim Cassie; Ed Howard.
These lobbyists represent reporters from Siskyou to Imperial, a very diverse group. It’s SEIU & AFSCME & IFPTE and the individual employee associations in Sacramento, Orange Counties and others.
A BIG COCRA THANK YOU AND STANDING OVATION TO ALL OF THEM!