SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Calif. Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount) today released the following statement after Gov. Jerry Brown released his initial budget proposal: “The Governor’s opening budget proposal is typically cautious, with some expected issues and also some areas of concern.”
“It’s good to see modest funding increases for K-12 schools, as well as for higher education. We must work to keep college affordable for California students, and I will not support burdening them with higher fees and greater student debt—whether that’s done by raising tuition or phasing out the Middle Class Scholarship. Ending the Middle Class Scholarship would increase the cost of a student’s four year education by up to $9,000 at CSU and up to $20,000 at UC.
“The Governor is also using his authority under current law to end the Coordinated Care Initiative. I believe we should work together to fix and improve the CCI to make it more cost effective, rather than have it scrapped all together.
“As we work to craft a final budget the Legislature and the Governor also have to keep moving on a parallel track to resolve the state’s transportation and affordable housing crises. Our economy can’t prosper if we don’t.
“The Assembly Budget Committee will begin hearings later this month. That vigorous public process will inform and improve the final budget. While we don’t know yet how the revenue forecasts will play out by June, we do know that thanks to the prudent budgeting of Assembly Democrats, California has a robust rainy day fund and can handle a shortfall if one does occur.”
Website of Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon: www.asmdc.org/speaker
