Contact: Sandra Jackson, 916-801-4776 (cell), sjackson@cta.org
“This gimmick-filled budget, which is more than 81 days late, will hurt public schools, colleges, health care, working families and communities for years," said CTA President David A. Sanchez in response to the state budget package passed by lawmakers tonight and sent to the governor for signing. "This disastrous spending plan still does nothing to solve the state’s structural deficit. It sets our schools and students up for more funding shortfalls and sets California up for the same budget problems next year.
“This budget cuts $3 billion from public education this year and never restores those funds. It gives the governor new powers to cut funding for some education programs mid-year, undermines Proposition 98, the minimum school funding law, and will certainly guarantee that the amount California spends on its students remains locked at the bottom nationwide.
“Failing to provide any ongoing new revenues, this ‘new deal’ budget is no real budget at all. It continues to rely on borrowing money from the lottery and future state revenues in order to close the $15 billion budget deficit. It takes $1.4 billion from hospitals and human services for the elderly, disabled, and children. It means a quarter-million children will be denied health insurance. It eliminates the eight-hour work day for some workers, while providing new tax loopholes for corporations that will cost the state billions. Working families will suffer.
“Our elected officials missed their opportunity to lead. This is not the responsible state budget plan that our public schools, educators and voters have been waiting for. CTA will be looking into all options available to ensure that our budget process better serves California students and their right to a quality education.”