State Controller John Chiang has declared that the state budget the legislature sent to the governor was “incomplete and unbalanced.” Further, the controller has calculated that the spending plan provided $1.3 billion less to public education than required by the minimum funding guarantee put in the state constitution by Proposition 98.

In a news release, the controller’s office noted, “The largest problem [in the legislative spending plan] involved the guaranteed level of education funding under Proposition 98. The June 15 budget underfunded education by more than $1.3 billion. Underfunding is not possible without suspending Proposition 98, which would require a supermajority (2/3) vote of the Legislature.”

More information about the analysis can be found at the controller’s website http://www.sco.ca.gov/Files-EO/Budget_Analysis_Sheet.pdf.

Gov. Jerry Brown has announced that he has vetoed the legislative budget because it does not go far enough in addressing the state’s chronic deficit problem.

The governor laid out his rationale in a YouTube presentation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7dHqjhJz8k

It is urgent that you call the following lawmakers ASAP today to press them to approve the proposal to transfer funds from Redevelopment Agencies (RDA) to public education. 

The transfer will provide $400 million in desperately needed dollars for public education. 

Urge these lawmakers to vote for these bills: AB x1 26, ABx1 27, SBx1 14, SBx1 15.   

The targeted lawmakers and their phone numbers are as follows:

Assembly 
Luis Alejo —Watsonville (also Gilroy, Hollister, King City)  District 28 — 831-726-6032
Charles Calderon East LA, Hacienda Heights, Montebello District 58 — 562-692-5858
Nora Campos — San Jose District 23 — 408-802-0334
Beth Gaines – Roseville, Rocklin District 4 – 916-774-4430
Ben Hueso—San Diego District 79—619-335-3383
Tony Mendoza – San Fernando Valley District 56 – 562-864-5600
Henry Perea—Fresno District 30 — (559) 445-5532
Manuel V. Perez—Coachella Valley District 80– 760-391-0958
Sandré Swanson—Oakland District 16—510-847-1125  

Senate
Ted Gaines – Roseville, Rocklin area District 1 — 916-783-8232
Alex Padilla – Los Angeles District 20 – 818-901-5588
Michael Rubio – Fresno area District 16 —  559-264-3070
Leland Yee – San Francisco District 8 – 415-557-7857

Fed up with the stonewalling by GOP leaders and the failure by the Legislature to approve tax extensions and pass the state budget, several Republican teachers from throughout the Central Valley turned out on June 9 to urge their GOP lawmakers to do the right thing for schools, students and California by getting behind the governor’s proposed budget.

The teachers, all prominent in the Republican Party and active in CTA’s Republican Caucus, particularly took aim at two local GOP legislators during a news conference at the Visalia Adult School.

“I’ve been a Republican all my life, and I know that Republicans care about California and about our schools,” said Ron Edwards, chair of Republican Caucus of the California Teachers Association, and a sixth-grade teacher at Cardozo Middle School in Stanislaus County. “That’s why we are calling on Assembly member Connie Conway here in Visalia, state Sen. Tom Berryhill representing my area, and other Republican legislators to get the job done: Approve the tax extensions and pass a budget. That’s the best thing we can do for our students.”

“It’s not a bad dream, and it’s not a joke. California’s public education system is hanging in the balance here, now, and it is up to us to decide what we truly value, and if we will do anything about it.”

Carlsbad resident Megan Pincus Kajitani urges California citizens to take action now in an eloquent, poignant post today on Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/megan-pincus-kajitani/california-schools-state-of-emergency_b_872883.html

Four Republican State Senators – Tom Berryhill of Modesto, Anthony Cannella of Ceres, Bill Emmerson of Hemet and Tom Harman of Huntington Beach — have released details of the items they say are “must haves” if they are to agree to a budget deal.

The items — tabbed “necessary reforms” — include a cap on state spending, “reform” to public pensions, alternatives to state regulations, and relaxation of California environmental regulations.

California Teachers Association and supporters of schools and other vital services have been seeking four Republican votes — two in the Senate and two in the Assembly – to gain the two-thirds majority needed to extend the state’s temporary taxes and stave of another $5 billion hit to schools that would be part of a $10 billion additional cut in state public services.

The full text of the GOP Senator’s list can be found at http://cssrc.us/pubs/110613_ReformProposalSpecifics.pdf

Prayer vigils urge state leaders to “Stand Up for California” by maintaining existing revenues

The evening before the California legislature’s constitutional deadline to pass a balanced budget, leaders of all faiths will gather in cities across California to pray that legislators have the strength and vision to “Stand up for California” and our seniors, children and struggling communities.

In prayer vigils held simultaneously in five California cities, the interfaith leaders will remember the children, families, seniors, people with disabilities and other Californians who have suffered harm because of budget cuts already made. To avoid another $9.6 billion in devastating cuts to families, the clergymen and women will pray that legislators have the strength to maintain existing revenues.

WHO: Interfaith Leaders
WHAT: Hold vigil, pray that legislators have strength to “Stand Up for California”
WHEN: Tuesday, June 14 @ 5:00 PM

WHERE:

Central Valley:
Senator Anthony Cannella’s Office
918 15th Street
Modesto, CA 95354

Senator Tom Berryhill’s Office*
6215 N. Fresno Street, Suite 104
Fresno, CA 93710

Central Coast:
Assemblyman Katcho Achadjian’s Office
1150 Osos Street, Suite 207 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Southern California:
Assemblyman Cameron Smyth’s Office
23732 Valencia Blvd, Suite 303
Santa Clarita, CA

Assemblyman Tom Harman Office
950 South Coast Drive, Suite 240
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Senate Bill 23 1X, approved on party-line vote with Democrats voting aye, would give county supervisors and school officials the ability to ask voters to increase taxes on a variety of goods and services – including income, sales, alcohol, cigarettes, medicinal marijuana and oil – to fund local services.

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/11/3692564/california-senate-rejects-extending.html

Elected in 2006, Assemblyman Cameron Smyth represents the 38th Assembly District, which includes the cities of Los Angeles, Santa Clarita, Simi Valley and Glendale.

Contact Information for His District Office:
• » Jarrod DeGonia – District Director
• » Paul Strickland – Field Representative
• Chris Ward – Field Representative

Assembly Member Katcho Achadjian represents the 33rd Assembly District in the California Legislature, including the communities of Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Grover Beach, Guadalupe, Lompoc, Morro Bay, Paso Robles, Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Maria.

The now-Assembly Member came to California in 1971. A native of Lebanon, he proudly became an American citizen on Dec. 17, 1982.

He attended Cuesta Community College and graduate from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a degree in business administration.

The Assembly Member was the founding chairman in 1999 of the San Luis Obispo County First 5 Commission. The Commission allocates funds and advocates for quality programs and services that support children prenatal to age 5 and ensure that every child is healthy and ready to learn in school.

Assemblyman Achadjian currently serves as vice-chairman of the Assembly Banking and Finance Committee, as a member of the Assembly Committees on Higher Education, Transportation and Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet.

Contact Information for the District Office

» Vicki Janssen – District Director

» Kevin Drabinski – Field Representative

» Alex Tacket – Field Representative

1150 Osos Street Suite 207
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805) 549-3381
(805) 549-3400 fax