February 6, 2012

Dear faculty member,
 
California's millionaires can stop devastating budget cuts and refund critical services in California -- from education to social services -- but we need your help.
 
AFT 2121 and our state afiliate, the California Federation of Teachers, has endorsed the Millionaires Tax of 2012, a progressive tax measure that we hope to qualify for the November 2012 ballot. It asks the wealthy, who have benefited so greatly from living in the Golden State, to pay 3-5% more in taxes to reinvest in our future.
 
Will you declare your support for taxing millionaires in order to pay for education and other vital services?
 
The Millionaires Tax of 2012 scares the 1% -- the Sacramento establishment, lobbyists, and giant corporations -- that would rather force the middle class to keep paying more and more for less. They are fighting to stop our ballot measure, and the only way we can defeat them is by creating an enormous grassroots movement. We have to rise up and show them the power of the 99%.
 
Will you join the movement? We need you.
 
For those making $1 million or more, the Millionaires Tax of 2012 would increase state income taxes by 3%. The rate would go up to 5% for those making $2 million or more. Experts say it would raise about $6 to 9.5 billion a year, enough to begin:

• restoring college classes and re-hiring laid off teachers to reduce K12 class sizes,
• restoring cuts to essential services for children, seniors, and people who are disabled,
• re-hiring laid off emergency responders,
• and creating jobs by repairing roads and bridges.

Here's the thing: we have to gather more than 500,000 signatures to qualify the Millionaires Tax of 2012 for the November ballot. If it gets on, we know we can win. An independent poll recently showed that 70% of voters support us.
 
We can do it! Click here to add your name to the growing chorus asking the wealthiest Californians to pay their fair share.

Please send this email to anyone you know who cares about the future of our state. Once you sign on, you'll have a chance to share this message on Facebook and Twitter.
 
Yours in the fight for economic justice and educational access,

Alisa Messer
AFT  2121 President

p.s. Are you ready to take the next step and get the Millionaires Tax passed? Sign up to volunteer for trainings, signature gathers, presentations, and more.