California universities escaped steep budget cuts. Can UC avoid them entirely?
Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!
CAN UC ESCAPE CUTS ENTIRELY?
When Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled his first budget proposal of the year in January, California’s public university systems were looking at an 8% budget cut.
The previous year, Newsom’s administration had asked other state agencies to trim nearly a tenth of their budgets. Now, it was the University of California and California State University systems’ turn for a haircut.
But when it was revealed earlier this year that few state agencies actually cut operational expenses by 8%, university advocates — including a majority of Assembly members — urged legislative leaders to reject the 8% proposed reduction.
Now, Newsom has proposed a smaller budget cut: 3%, which was more in line with savings recently achieved by other state agencies.
While university leaders, employees and students are grateful for the reprieve, they’re asking to be exempt completely from California’s cost saving measures at a fragile time for higher education.
“At a time of unprecedented federal attacks, California must be a beacon to the rest of the country in defending higher education,” Rafael Jaime, president of UAW Local 4811, which represents 48,000 university workers, said at a press conference outside on the Capitol grounds Wednesday.
While labor groups and university administrators are normally on the opposite sides of the bargaining table, the two parties stood side by side on Wednesday to call on the Legislature to reject the proposed budget cuts as UC prepares to potentially lose hundreds of millions of dollars in federal research funding.
“For more than three decades, UC and UAW have worked together and that partnership continues today,” said Kathleen Fullerton, the associate vice president of state government relations for UC’s Office of the President. “We’re really proud to partner with you for our shared support of the vital funding for the University of California.
Newsom’s May proposal included $130 million in budget cuts, which union leaders said have already led to layoffs and cuts to teaching assignments. The California State University system is facing a similarly sized budget cut of $144 million.
“This type of funding cut will probably impact folks who need the funding the most as many vital student services and campus supports might be the ones that receive less money,” said Aditi Hariharan, president of the UC Student Association. Hariharan said the funding cuts would likely lead to larger class sizes and fewer resources to help students succeed.
‘BULLY’ PULPIT
Via Lia Russell...
The Legislative LGBTQ Caucus called out President Donald Trump’s “bullying” of a Southern California high school athlete, a day after the California Interscholastic Federation said it would change the rules for an upcoming statewide track championship she is set to participate in.
On Tuesday, Trump posted that he would block federal funding to California if local officials didn’t block a young trans athlete from competing at the statewide track and field championships, which is set to take place Friday and Saturday in Clovis. In response, the CIF said it would start a “pilot program” allowing cisgender athletes who failed to qualify to participate in the event if they lost to a trans competitor.
The CIF has so far not publicly shared details of the policy change, including how they would enforce it or determine which athletes are transgender or cisgender.
In a statement, the caucus said “no social media post or politician” could trump existing state law, which protects trans athletes from discrimination.
“The student athletes performed remarkably, yet some adults chose to harass, stalk, grandstand and upstage an event otherwise focused on student betterment. Their actions are cruel and dangerous to our youth,” the caucus said.
“The President obsessing over and amplifying heretical hatred serves to only distract from his chaos in Washington to cut healthcare and food assistance for millions. We strongly condemn his actions and illegal overtures to enlist local authorities, a power the President does not have in this matter.”
ESSAYLI & DHILLON TEAM UP ON TRANS SPORTS
Via Nicole Nixon...
President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice launched a Title IX investigation Wednesday over a state law that allows transgender students athletes to compete on the teams consistent with their gender identity.
The investigation comes a day after Trump threatened to withhold federal funding to the state over a transgender girl competing in state track and field championships this weekend.
Californians will likely be familiar with those behind the investigation.
U.S. Attorney (and former Capitol agitator) Bill Essayli and Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon are investigating whether AB 1266 — a Brown-era law that requires schools to allow trans students to participate in school activities and athletics that match their gender identity — conflicts with Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools.
They also signed on in support of a lawsuit filed on behalf of two student athletes in Riverside County who allege they lost athletic opportunities to the trans student.
In a letter to Ron Nocetti, executive director of the California Interscholastic Federation, Dhillon said she has “reasonable cause to believe” allowing trans students to compete “depriv(es) girls and young women from equal athletic opportunities.”
Trump and Dhillon pointed to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recent comment that trans athletes in girl’s sports is “deeply unfair.”
Dhillon in a statement said it “is perverse to allow males to compete against girls, invade their private spaces, and take their trophies.”
“The law is clear: Discrimination on the basis of sex is illegal and immoral,” Essayli said in a statement. “My office and the rest of the Department of Justice will work tirelessly to protect girls’ sports and stop anyone — public officials included — from violating women’s civil rights.”
Essayli, as a member of the Assembly earlier this year, authored an unsuccessful bill to overturn AB 1266.
LIBERATION DAY BLOCKED
Via Lia Russell...
A federal court struck down President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff policies on Wednesday, ruling he had overstepped his bounds by claiming a national emergency.
The U.S. Court of International Trade, which is based in New York, ruled that Trump did not have the authority to enact his “Liberation Day” policies under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which allows presidents to control some economic transactions in times of threats to national security.
The court ruled that Trump’s declaration that the U.S. faced trade deficits and was under siege from “criminal gangs” and drug traffickers, prompting him to levy tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China, did not meet that standard.
California also sued to stop the tariffs. Newsom said the tariffs threatened the Golden State’s economy and blew a $16 billion hole in its general fund.
”The courts agree — Donald Trump exceeded his authority when he tried to impose his chaotic, disruptive tariffs that have done nothing but increase costs for American families,” he said in response to the court ruling.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“We trust in our judges and our judges did not let us down. Our judges continue the motions and refused to dismiss proceedings, allowing these people to continue with their asylum claims. But that didn’t matter, they were still arrested, they were still dragged off and detained.”
— Volunteer lawyer Jessie De Haven speaking outside a downtown Sacramento courthouse Wednesday after witnessing arrests of three men by plain clothes ICE officers.
Best of The Bee:
- Courthouse arrests ‘weaponize,’ ‘sabotage’ immigration process, advocates say, via Stephen Hobbs
- Three men arrested at Sacramento’s immigration court, following national trend, via Stephen Hobbs
- California changes rules around trans athletes after Trump’s threat to halt funding, via Lia Russell
- Controversial solar energy bill draws broad coalition of opposition, via William Melhado
