Legislative leaders react to budget woes + A record number of women lawmakers
Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!
CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS REACT TO CONCERNING BUDGET NEWS
After the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office released its grim report that California faces possible deficits of up to $25 billion, Democratic leaders put on a brave face, promising to protect existing budget priorities from cuts.
”We can and will protect the progress of recent years’ budgets. In particular, the Assembly will protect California’s historic school funding gains, as districts must continue to invest in retaining and recruiting staff to help kids advance and recover from the pandemic,” Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Lakewood, said in a statement.
Assemblyman Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, who chairs the Assembly Budget Committee, tweeted that the Legislature has done “amazing work” increasing funding for health care, education, housing and homelessness and climate change.
“While there’s still more work to do, we anticipated a possible economic downturn & planned for it responsibly with a historic $37B reserve. We will use it to protect the investments we’ve made & make sure our budget is balanced,” Ting wrote.
Assemblyman Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield, who vice chairs the Assembly Budget Committee, was less sanguine about the state’s prospects.
“We must refocus on fiscal responsibility,” Fong said in a statement. “It is time to prioritize precious tax dollars and invest in the critical issues that are impacting all Californians — needed water storage, affordable domestic energy production, a reliable supply chain and improving our business climate — to rebuild a healthy economy.”
On the Senate side, Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, said that while tough forecasts in the past have meant painful budget cuts and a tax increase on the middle class, “that does not have to be the case this year, however.”
“We built our reserves to record highs, paid down debts, and avoided committing one-time resources to ongoing purposes, while also making historic progress with new commitments that strengthen the middle class, assist struggling Californians, and fight climate change,” Atkins said in a statement.
WOMEN’S CAUCUS ON TRACK FOR 50 SEATS THIS YEAR
2022 is set to be a historic year for women in the California Legislature. For the first time, 50 women will hold seats — an increase from the current 39.
“At the current pace, 42% of the 120 seats in both houses will be held by women when the new Legislature convenes on December 5,” according to a statement from the Legislative Women’s Caucus.
This year also saw a record number of women running for legislative office, competing for 65 out of 100 open Assembly and Senate seats.
“To assist women candidates, women Senators and Assemblymembers made monetary contributions, hosted fundraisers, ran phone banks, knocked on voter doors, and worked to get other prominent endorsements,” according to the statement.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Candidates who lost their races…Call your opponent. Do the right thing. Show class and grace. We are all counting on them to be successful in their role. Public service is bigger than you and them.”
- Assemblyman Isaac Bryan, D-Los Angeles, via Twitter.
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