National Nurses United

NewsBriefs 12/12/06 12:23 PM Page 4 NewsBriefs Prop. 89 Propped a Foot in the Door of Reform hile the clean money initiative, Proposition 89, did not win in November's election, CNA/NNOC nurses, working with a wide coalition of public interest groups, were able to spotlight the problem of the corrupting influence of corporate money on government as never before. Plus, the fight is not over. CNA/NNOC plans to work with California State Assemblywoman Loni Hancock to reintroduce the campaign finance reform measure before the California Legislature and is confident that many, if not all, of Prop. 89's provisions to curb the influence of money on politics will eventually pass in some shape or form. In 1996, CNA sponsored an initiative, Proposition 216, to end HMO abus- W es. Though Prop. 216 lost, it sparked reforms that within three years resulted in legislative implementation of almost all its provisions, including including nurse-to-patient ratios. "CNA/NNOC has become a political force that is hard to ignore," said Rose Ann DeMoro, executive director. "We challenge all Californians, including those who claimed they favor reform but just disagreed with some provisions in Prop. 89, to show their commitment to genuine reform of our dysfunctional political system. We have opened the door to reform that can't be closed. We've introduced a new concept to California, Clean Money, and did enormous public education." The Prop. 89 campaign's style of pub- CALIFORNIA 4 REGISTERED NURSE W W W. C A L N U R S E S . O R G lic education included many innovative new techniques previously untried in California politics. Among the most prominent was the campaign's use of music and entertainment. In October, the campaign released a rap song and video titled About Time for 89 meant to educate Californians about how the current political system, dominated by corporate interests and money, hurts their everyday lives and inspire them to vote for Prop. 89. "Can't get health if you don't have wealth, can't fix schools if you don't have tools, can't get gas to fill up the tank, the Big Boys are taking us to the bank!" read part of the lyrics. Colette Washington, a CNA/NNOC employee who usually runs the organization's website and is also a local singer and songwriter, created and performed the rap spontaneously late NOVEMBER 2006

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