Monning Reveals California's Apocalyptic Deficit
The Center for Change proved it remains at the center of Monterey’s political community when it hosted a Barrack Obama 100th day celebration. The event featured performances by the Monterey Peninsula Gospel Choir, a flag raising ceremony, and most notably, a presentation by California State Assembly Member Bill Monning.
As prelude to his presentation, Assembly Member Monning gave an astounding report of California’s dire economic circumstances. With a $105 billion budget, which is weighted toward maintenance of the state’s prison system, California is facing down both barrels of a 42 billion dollar budget deficit. Representing essentially 40% of the state’s total budget and with formerly concrete revenue sources plummeting, such a deficit is catastrophic.
Monning also gave a glimpse of behind closed door negotiations in which he says democratic caucuses slugged out the issues while Republicans drank beer and ate pizza. Astonishingly, Monning gave an eyewitness account of a republican colleague’s articulated goal of having California collapse in financial ruin so that a new state, free of social programs can be built from the ashes! How can such an apocalyptic outcome be anything but criminal?
At the core of Assembly Member Monning’s presentation was the upcoming May 19th special election in which Monning supports all six propositions. To see Assembly Member Monning’s presentation in its entirety, view the video above. For a brief description of the six propositions, read on.
According to the Committee for a new Economy:
Proposition 1A – Budget stabilization Act
This proposition creates an enhanced Rainy day Fund to ensure savings during good times so that money is available in bad times to help protect against more cuts to education, health care and other vital services. The lack of sufficient reserves has led California on a budget roller coaster. This proposition addresses the roller coaster budget problem, and a portion of the reserve will repay some of the cuts made to education.
Proposition 1B – Protect Education Funding
This proposition starts the process of restoring funding for education as the California economy improves. Proposition 1B establishes a repayment plan to ensure that schools and community colleges are repaid the $9.3 billion they are owed under the states minimum school funding law (Proposition 98). Without properly funded education, our children are becoming increasingly under prepared to compete in the globalized market, and as our children go, so goes the nation.
Proposition 1C -- Lottery Modernization Act
This proposition modernizes the lottery to improve its performance with increased payments and effective management. It provides $5 billion in new revenues to help close the budget deficit. Public schools will continue to receive the same amount of funding as they receive today.
Proposition 1D – Children’s Services Funding
Temporarily redirects a portion of the unspent funds from the tobacco tax to pay for children’s health and social services. The Children and Families Trust Fund has about $2.5 billion that has not been spent. A portion of those funds will pay for critical health and social services for children.
Proposition 1E – Children’s Services Funding
Temporarily redirects a portion of the funds from the Mental Health Services Trust fund, approved by voters as Proposition 63 in 2004, to help pay for children’s health programs including health care screening, diagnosis and treatment.
Proposition 1F – Legislative Salary Freeze
Prohibits state legislators, the governor and other state elected officials from getting pay raises whenever the state budget is running a deficit. |
