By Leland Yee
Two weeks ago, the California Legislature made major revisions to the 2009 State Budget in order to fill an additional $23 billion shortfall. In all, the Senate approved 30 bills that resulted in billions of dollars in cuts and several major policy changes. The Governor signed the package of bills last week, but only after several line-item vetoes were made.
Historically, I have voted against cuts to education, social services, and healthcare as well as any weakening of labor or environmental laws, again voted no on all such cuts and policy changes. Out of the 30 budget bills, I voted against 13 of the bills, including all cuts to local government, education, human services, and healthcare. I also voted against new oil drilling off California’s coast and against several administrative changes to programs for the poor and disabled.
Despite the Legislature’s approval of the budget package, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger continues to favor attacking children’s health insurance, state assistance to the elderly and disabled, and now the state’s AIDS prevention program rather than recommending the closure of tax loopholes for corporations and the wealthy.
The Governor’s budget line-item vetoes once again demonstrate the ideological divide between Republicans and Democrats. This budget was a ‘goodie bag’ of Republican principles, of which I could not support. While the budget solves an immediate and critical problem, the long-term impacts of these cuts will have dire consequences.
We should not be passing the budget on the backs of seniors, students, the poor and disabled. These vulnerable individuals are suffering enough during this economy and need our assistance more than ever. I am deeply disappointed that new revenues, including taxes on the rich and oil severance, were not even put up for a vote.
I have fought to protect California’s coast and prevent any new offshore oil drilling. In 2005, I authored and passed with bipartisan support legislation declaring California’s opposition to any weakening of the federal offshore oil drilling moratorium.
Any additional offshore oil leasing and production would degrade the quality of our air and water, threaten endangered species, adversely impact our marine resources, and further hurt our economy. The protection of California’s coastline is vital to our wildlife and our economy – especially commercial fishing and tourism – which annually contributes over $50 billion to the state’s economy.
As the cuts made to this budget begin to affect our state agencies and its programs, many Californians will be left strapped, with fewer resources available. Feel free to contact my office at (415) 55707857 and we will gladly direct you to a program that can provide the assistance you need.
Two weeks ago, the California Legislature made major revisions to the 2009 State Budget in order to fill an additional $23 billion shortfall. In all, the Senate approved 30 bills that resulted in billions of dollars in cuts and several major policy changes. The Governor signed the package of bills last week, but only after several line-item vetoes were made.
Historically, I have voted against cuts to education, social services, and healthcare as well as any weakening of labor or environmental laws, again voted no on all such cuts and policy changes. Out of the 30 budget bills, I voted against 13 of the bills, including all cuts to local government, education, human services, and healthcare. I also voted against new oil drilling off California’s coast and against several administrative changes to programs for the poor and disabled.
Despite the Legislature’s approval of the budget package, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger continues to favor attacking children’s health insurance, state assistance to the elderly and disabled, and now the state’s AIDS prevention program rather than recommending the closure of tax loopholes for corporations and the wealthy.
The Governor’s budget line-item vetoes once again demonstrate the ideological divide between Republicans and Democrats. This budget was a ‘goodie bag’ of Republican principles, of which I could not support. While the budget solves an immediate and critical problem, the long-term impacts of these cuts will have dire consequences.
We should not be passing the budget on the backs of seniors, students, the poor and disabled. These vulnerable individuals are suffering enough during this economy and need our assistance more than ever. I am deeply disappointed that new revenues, including taxes on the rich and oil severance, were not even put up for a vote.
I have fought to protect California’s coast and prevent any new offshore oil drilling. In 2005, I authored and passed with bipartisan support legislation declaring California’s opposition to any weakening of the federal offshore oil drilling moratorium.
Any additional offshore oil leasing and production would degrade the quality of our air and water, threaten endangered species, adversely impact our marine resources, and further hurt our economy. The protection of California’s coastline is vital to our wildlife and our economy – especially commercial fishing and tourism – which annually contributes over $50 billion to the state’s economy.
As the cuts made to this budget begin to affect our state agencies and its programs, many Californians will be left strapped, with fewer resources available. Feel free to contact my office at (415) 55707857 and we will gladly direct you to a program that can provide the assistance you need.
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