[courtesy of California Progress Report]

• New Poll Shows More Californians Favor Tax Increases
• 56% of Californians "Very Concerned" About Spending Cuts
• Major Budget Subcommittee Hearings In April
• Most Actions Will Wait Until Governor's May Budget Revisions

By Marty D. Omoto
Director/Organizer
California Disability Community Action Network

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Jeremy Bearer-Friend

Last Friday, the Department of Corrections succeeded in fleecing another $2 billion from the State, thanks to the rubber stamp of the State Public Works Board. The money will provide interim financing for California's meteoric prison expansion bill, AB 900.

At 10am on March 14th, a standing room only crowd peppered with party reps and journalists from across the state awaited the start of the session. By 10:30 am, the Board had approved interim financing for all three AB 900 bonds in three separate 5-0 votes.

A letter from Senator Carole Migden, Legislative Adviser to the Public Works Board and Chair of the Democratic Caucus, explained, "Due to the State's current financial crisis, I do not believe it is fiscally prudent to authorize lease revenue bonds which will increase the State's structural deficit." Assemblywoman Julia Brownley, Chair of the Budget Subcommittee on Education, submitted a similar letter requesting a delay.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

In this week’s Democratic weekly radio address, Assemblymembers Julia Brownley (D-Santa Monica) and Kevin De León (D-Los Angeles) argue that protecting our state’s schools from drastic budget cuts should be a top priority during ongoing budget negotiations.

You can listen in English or Spanish. The transcript is below.

Hello. This is Assemblymember Julia Brownley, chair of the Budget Subcommittee on Education.

Today’s global economy provides many opportunities, but it also means our children are competing for jobs with countries like China and India, which long ago made education their top priority.

Parents understand that education is critical to future generations of Californians and don’t want shortsightedness in Sacramento to hold their children back.

For this reason, California voters overwhelmingly support Proposition 98, a ballot measure that was designed to protect vital funding for schools and teachers.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

In today’s Democratic weekly radio address Assemblymember Patty Berg and Assemblymember Hector de la Torre talk about the need for a balanced approach to balancing the state’s budget. Berg and de la Torre say the Governor’s 10-percent, across the board "cuts only" plan is not financially smart and would hurt the poor, the elderly and the disabled. In the radio address Berg and de le Torre say, “Proposed cuts in Medi-Cal’s doctor reimbursement rates, already the lowest in the nation, will drastically reduce health care access by driving doctors, particularly specialists like pediatricians, out of Medi-Cal or out of California entirely. Additionally, we would be throwing away over a billion dollars in federal matching funds aimed at supporting Medi-Cal.”

You may listen in English or Spanish. The transcript is below.