SACRAMENTO - Wayne Johnson, president of the 330,000-member California Teachers Association, today issued the following statement regarding the Governor's revised 2002-03 state budget.
"With the state facing a $23 billion budget deficit, teachers recognize that tough decisions must be made. CTA is pleased that the Governor is recommending full cost-of-living and growth increases for all education programs. The children of California deserve no less.
"The one-time reductions of education funding will not be painless, but the guaranteed payback of all money protects the long-term integrity of Proposition 98 and will mean more money for public schools in future years. This revised budget plan protects the core of education funding in a tough year, but will allow us to invest more money in education when the economy improves.
"CTA is also pleased that the revised budget includes more than $200 million in new federal money to offset costs to the state's Class Size Reduction program. This infusion of money should stop any talk of cuts to this vital education reform."