Earmark Funds for CSL

One of the strongest voices and most successful advocates for older Americans has been the California Senior Legislature. But CSL’s future is threatened with extinction.

Unless enough Californians earmark a portion of their state income taxes for the California Senior Legislature, CSL will lose its only source of funds. A statewide minimum of $250,000 is required for this fund to remain on the tax form. Without that minimum, the California Fund for Seniors will be dropped from future tax returns and CSL will be out of business. (From a once $470,000 annual fund, last year, an all-time low of $270,000 was contributed.)

Seniors have already reaped a multitude of benefits of the California Senior Legislature’s work. Nursing home reforms, drug labeling reforms, the broadening of in-home support services, strengthening California’s long-term care network--and dozens more valuable contributions to California’s senior population have been the remarkable record of the CSL for 13 years.

Even the current attention to universal access to health care might not be taking place if not for CSL’s unrelenting pressure. The 120 members who serve as uncompensated elected representatives of older Californians have made the issue of universal health care their No. 1 priority for the past eight years. Finally, our government is listening.

So, when preparing your 1993 return, or when your preparer does it for you, earmark a few dollars for the California Senior Legislature. Remember, Line 49 on the State Tax Return: the California Fund for Seniors.

Joseph Ellenbogen

Camarillo

Joseph Ellenbogen is a senator in the California Senior Legislature.