Brown’s Revised Budget Gets Cheers And Jeers

Sacramento, CA – State Republicans reacted to Governor Jerry Brown’s record $115.3 billion revised budget with praise and criticism.

As reported earlier, the Governor unveiled the budget Thursday. It would set aside $3.8 billion to the rainy day fund, increase spending for K-12 and community colleges by $6 billion, and includes $2.2 billion for water conservation projects. Mother Lode Assemblymember Frank Bigelow had a mixed reaction saying, “Once again the Governor has hit the mark with his commitment to paying down our wall of debt and I commend him for that. It’s clear that education funding remains a priority, and it’s also clear that there is simply no need to extend the Proposition 30 tax increase. Lastly, I am disappointed that we have not moved the needle on water storage, and I will continue to engage in that fight, because it’s the right thing to do for California.”

The Assembly Republicans response mirrored Bigelow’s.  As previously reported, the revised budget includes $380 million in tax credits for the working poor.  Republican Leader Kristin Olsen of Modesto states, “We applaud the Governor for putting money back into the pockets of those who work hard every day and pay their taxes – it’s the right move. The Governor’s low-income tax credit merits discussion but it will not end widespread poverty. That’s why Assembly Republicans have offered straightforward solutions to reform education and support the modern economy, so every Californian can boost their earnings and quality of life.”

Olsen went on to say that Republicans’ top budget priority is improving the quality of education in state schools. She called on the Governor to support Republican’s #GreatSchools4CA, which is a package of bills that includes changing teacher tenure rules.