Nearly 800 advocates for California's "working families" gathered in downtown Sacramento on Tuesday, and they had plenty to talk about.
Deep cuts to programs that fund food and health care and affordable housing for the state's most vulnerable people. Rising unemployment and demand for social services. Alarming school dropout rates.
It was enough to tear Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg away from budget negotiations at the Capitol to rally the group of nonprofit staffers, policymakers and others at the Sacramento Convention Center.
Steinberg, six weeks into his new job, admitted that he has not been getting out much lately.
"I've been mired in trying to solve the most difficult budget challenge in the most difficult economic crisis in my lifetime," he said, admitting that he is humbled by the task. "We have to make sure we do everything we can to protect the vulnerable, and at the same time make the painful decisions required to balance this budget."
Steinberg laid out the centerpiece of his vision for lifting up California's working families. He wants to invest the state's infrastructure dollars to help businesses create "career academies" to train young people for environmentally sound "green" jobs that pay well and offer health, retirement and other benefits.
"The real answer is to create an economic and job base that guarantees decent wages and benefits," he said.
His remarks were met with an ovation.
The California Center for Research on Women and Families hosted Tuesday's policy summit, timed to coincide with the start of the legislative session. The forum is designed to help lawmakers establish priorities on issues, from welfare to preschool to mental health, that affect working families.
Participants in the summit, working for months in advance of the conference, offered various recommendations to members of the state Legislature. Among them:
• Defeat Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposal to decrease eligibility to the Medi-Cal program.
• Upgrade the food stamp program to deal with increased demand, and streamline the application and eligibility process.
• Invest in public-private partnerships to establish more affordable housing for needy people.
• Enact legislation to prevent foreclosures by reforming the mortgage system and increasing consumer protection.
Steinberg said he looks forward to working toward some of the measures.
"I can't wait to get beyond the crisis of the moment," he said. "You have inspired me to go back across the street so that we can get to that point."
With that, Steinberg rushed back to the Capitol.
Call The Bee's Cynthia Hubert, (916) 321-1082.
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.