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The California Budget Crisis Hit Home Today
By Don Perata
President pro Tem
California State Senate
Today, the California budget crisis hit home.
I joined with my Democratic and Republican colleagues in the state Legislature to pass $1 billion in cost-cutting measures to ensure the state can pay its bills this spring.
We tried to minimize the impact of the cuts, but make no mistake about it, these cuts are tough to stomach.
The actions included reducing spending on our schools by $506 million and lowering the rates paid to doctors who serve Medi-Cal patients, a move that may encourage doctors to quit treating the poor.
And previously planned cost-of-living increases for the poor, the working poor and the disabled receiving assistance through SSI/SSP or CalWORKS were delayed by three months until October.
We all want a better future “a future in which residents have an opportunity to live without fear and with hope. Today’s budget belies that goal. Today’s budget is a statement that California is going in the wrong direction.
But it could be just the beginning, as the state confronts a large deficit for next year.
I won’t accept a second-class state and neither should you. It’s time to stand up and fight for the better schools, health care and public safety we need for a brighter future.
All along I have said there is no way for us to cut our way out of this fiscal problem. If we were to balance next year’s budget on cuts alone, we would devastate our public schools and universities and our safety net programs.
I will not accept that. I will not accept a second-class educational system, or having more youth in our prisons than in our universities. I will not accept leaving alone our seniors or leaving out our children.
California must find new sources of revenue to sustain itself. We can no longer scrape by year to year, cut to cut.
Join me in demanding the stable revenues we need to protect California’s future.
Comments
Why dont they just fix the california 3 strikes law to help the budget theres alot of people in prison for life that are not a threat to society thats a lot of wasted money that could be saved, the families of these prisoners want them home they could be out here working and productive we dont need all these prison guards baby sitting people that arent a threat to society
Posted by: jorge at February 16, 2008 12:41 PM
JORGE..... AMAN... THIS 3 STRIKE LAW IS BROKING CALIF AND NOW THE PEOPLE OF CALIF IS PAYING FOR THIS MESS ..
TOO THE LAWMAKERS FIX THE 3 STRIKE LAW AND STOP WASTING TAXS MONEY OF CALIF ..YOU JUST CAN NOT DO THE RIGHT THING CAN YOU ..OPEN YOUR HEART !!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS BIG MESS YOU MADE
Posted by: delang at February 17, 2008 01:22 PM
Gee, if the governor hadn't revoked the vehicle licensing tax we wouldn't be in this mess. How about reinstating the tax!!
Posted by: Stephanie at February 25, 2008 10:57 AM
I would rather my taxes be raised a few than our children's education suffer. They are our most valuable resource and are not getting the tools they need to succeed!!!
Posted by: Edwin at March 3, 2008 10:33 PM
please release the 3 strikes people back into San francisco and Jorge town. California my beloved banana republic 3rd world
Posted by: steve at July 24, 2008 12:12 PM
Get off your ass and quit looking for hand outs! You want it earn it, you want to have kids, be prepared to pay for them. Don't expect others to carry your lazy asses! Get a job and pay your fare share!
Posted by: Robert at August 5, 2008 02:00 PM
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