Today is a big day. Mark March 3 on your calendar. On that day we will have a statewide Special Election.
At that time the ballot will include billions in bonds--to add to the debt. Also,a series of measures of "reform" to fix the budget problem. We have tried reform before. What we really need is honesty in government, not more toothless laws. Plus, the current budget battle is not being honestly reported. Thanks to a union, we might also have the Recall of the Governor on the ballot. But, he is NOT intimidated!
What the special interests do not note is that the Republicans want to give $2 BILLION MORE TO EDUCATION than Democrats. Plus, the Democrats, to give less money to education wanted to raise taxes, add costs to energy and food for the poor and middle class.
Earlier today I received a copy of a statement from our State Assemblywoman, Audra Strickland.
Thought you should see it directly, without being filtered by special interest groups.
From Assemblywoman Audra Strickland:
"As a former classroom teacher, I understand the critical importance of funding education as a priority. I have never supported suspending Proposition 98 and have strongly fought attempts to reduce education funding. Republicans in the Assembly have proposed funding education $2 billion dollars over and above the Democrat budget.
The choice facing the Legislature today in the budget debate is not a choice between increasing taxes or cutting education. These are not the only options to balance the budget. There is plenty of waste, fraud and abuse within our state government that we can cut to save taxpayers and protect education.
Teachers, parents and all taxpayers are already overtaxed. Further increasing taxes and allowing Democrats in the Legislature to continue to waste our hard-earned tax dollars will only further jeopardize education.
I join our education community in demanding that this Legislature deliver a budget that will protect our children, protect education dollars and protect our teachers. We cannot raise taxes and jeopardize our state's economy, which would reduce the number of dollars going to our schools for years to come.
I will continue to fight to protect our children and our teachers and only support a budget that will do the same".
It is time to pass an honest budget that does not kill jobs or force families to move to another State. Now is the time to pass a budget that protects those who want to provide quality public education. Glad to see that the GOP is willing to schools, families and jobs. Now if we could get the Democrats on board, we would have a budget that works for all Californians.
Audra Strickland- Pathological Liar
She must not have actually read the Republican budget proposal which HEAVILY singles out education for cuts. In fact 5 of 6.8 billion total in cuts in the Republican proposal comes from education.
Actually, in REAL dollars, it is $2 billion more than the Democrats.
It is less then requested by the special interests, but more than the Democrats were willing to give.
nice Frank. jw1 were do you get your info?