SACRAMENTO – (INT) – Reaction and comment to Governor Brown’s proposed state budget is varied and along party lines.

Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino): “I believe that Governor Brown’s focus on “fix-it-first” investments to repair neighborhood roads and state highways that will improve daily commutes and honor our commitment to California taxpayers.”

Assemblywoman Melissa A. Melendez (R-Lake Elsinore): “I appreciate the Governor exceeding what is required to invest in our state’s rainy day fund, but if we truly want to prepare for the future, we cannot continue to ignore the $200+ billion wall of debt we have amassed.

Assembly Budget Committee Vice Chair Jay Obernolte (R-Hesperia): “I’m pleased that the Governor agrees we must continue to set aside money for the rainy-day fund, but we still need to do more to prepare for future downturns. The surplus should be used to fund one-time investments in our state’s infrastructure – not on new programs that commit the state to future ongoing spending.”

University of California: “The University of California is pleased that the governor’s budget provides for a funding increase to our core educational budget. This 3 percent increase, however, is less than we anticipated under the framework we established with the governor. That agreement acknowledged the need for ongoing, predictable state funding to maintain UC quality and access while requiring the university to lower its cost structure.”

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson: “Governor Brown’s budget proposal provides a big boost to our public school students. The proposal shows how far we have come as a state in the past seven years in increasing investments in education so our students can continue to succeed in college and the 21st Century economy.”

Story Date: January 19, 2018