INSTRUCTIONS FOR PROVIDING PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Senate Governance and Finance Committee, Monday, August 3, 2020, 10:00 a.m.
Thank you for taking the time to testify in support of AB 1253 (Santiago)! Your voice is so valuable to making sure that we hold our elected representatives accountable to ensuring that the wealthy pay their fair share. This document is meant to provide you with a brief overview on how to use the State Senate’s call in system to provide your testimony.
WHAT NUMBER SHOULD I CALL? The toll free number for call-in testimony will be made available and updated the night before. Someone from your organization will contact you with the correct call-in information.
WHAT TIME SHOULD I CALL? 10:00 AM
HOW LONG WILL I HAVE TO WAIT ON THE LINE? There will be two bills heard during this hearing. Our bill, AB 1253, will be heard second. Unfortunately, because we can’t predict how long each presentation will be, we don’t know how long you will have to wait on the phone, but please stay on as long as you can! YOUR VOICE IS CRUCIAL!
Please note that public comment will be accepted at the conclusion of each bill presentation. The agenda for the hearing is listed below.
HOW LONG WILL I BE ABLE TO SPEAK FOR? You will have 1-2 minutes. If you go over that, you will be cut off.
WHAT SHOULD I SAY? You should focus on your personal story and how you are impacted or will be impacted if we have to cut vital public services because our state leaders refuse to make the wealthy pay their fair share. Suggested talking points will be provided to help you gather your thoughts.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR DIALING IN
- Call the toll free number and enter the access code
- You will enter the ‘waiting room’ where you can listen but will be muted
- Mute the device you are watching the hearing on
- Listen to the hearing using the phone
- When prompted for position dial 1-0 (one time only)
- Be patient and an operator will give you a line number, there can be a short wait
- Once you receive your line number, you are now in the queue
- Wait in the queue, the moderator will call your line number and unmute you
- You are now ready to address the committee
HEARING AGENDA: MEASURES WILL BE HEARD IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER:
- A.B.No. 310 Santiago. California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank.
- A.B.No. 1253 Santiago. Personal income taxes: additional tax. (Tax Levy) (OUR BILL!!)
SAMPLE TALKING POINTS FOR AB1253
Senate Governance & Finance Committee
- My name is __________. I am a ___(job)___ from __(city)___ .
- I am speaking out because leaders like you need to do the right thing. You must choose to help Californians like me survive today’s crisis and build a life by making the wealthiest pay their fair share.
- Our communities are in crisis. Businesses and schools are closed indefinitely. People are being shut out of access to healthcare. Our recovery is stuck in limbo because of COVID-19.
- INSERT YOUR PERSONAL STORY HERE – (I lost my job, I lost my childcare, I can’t go to work because my kids are out of school, I’m about to be evicted)
- We need your leadership to guide us out of this mess – more protections for renters, more childcare, and action so our schools and economy can safely reopen. None of those are free.
- We need you to have a plan, get the funding, and invest in people like me. We will pay the price when you won’t ask billionaires to contribute to California’s recovery and invest in our communities suffering most in this pandemic.
- You are our leaders. We need you to choose what is right for California’s families. You must choose justice, equity, and inclusion and then lead us towards a better future that welcomes all of us. Getting there will require reliable revenues through new taxes.