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QUOTABLE DEMS

- Speaker Karen Bass, commenting on The California Assembly's early morning bipartisan vote to close the state’s historic $41 billion budget deficit with a combination of spending cuts and new revenues.

CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY - DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS

Assembly Speaker Bass on California’s Financial Crisis Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles), speaking with reporters this afternoon regarding the state’s fiscal situation, said she’s disappointed and frustrated that a budget agreement has not been finalized. Speaker Bass said there could have been a budget deal days ago if the Governor had said yes to the package of budget solutions Democrats sent to the Governor.

Speaker Bass: IOUs, Deeper Deficit Could Have Been Avoided “This was totally unnecessary,” Bass said. “The Assembly passed three bipartisan bills with $4 billion in cuts and other cash solutions that could have avoided IOUs. If the Governor had just sent the signal to Senate Republicans the bills would have passed. It’s especially frustrating that it was the governor’s own proposals he kept bottled up until it was too late.”

Ban on Sale of “Whippets” to Minors No Laughing Matter “At about 50 cents each, whippets are easy for our kids to buy. That’s why we have seen kids as young as third-graders begin to abuse nitrous oxide,” said Torlakson, a long-time teacher. “The effects this seemingly innocent drug, can devastate families as children suffer permanent and irreversible damage.”

Real Cuts, A Healthy Reserve, Limited Revenues Needed To Solve California Deficit "We have accepted the Governor’s realistic proposals to solve the deficit. But in standing up for California families, we have rejected his over-the-top proposals for eliminating the safety net in California."

Statement by Speaker Karen Bass on California’s Unemployment Rate Reaching 11.5% "Today’s unemployment numbers also underscore an important point suggested in UCLA’s economic forecast earlier this week: a cuts-only approach to the budget—including wholesale elimination of state services and massive layoffs – would make California’s unemployment rate drastically worse and delay our recovery even longer.”

Responsible, Balanced Approach Needed to Guide California During Difficult Financial Times The Conference Committee plan is the balanced approach Californians want: Real cuts, limited new revenues and other solutions that help California ward off a cash crisis later this summer.

Legislative Leaders Back Responsible Balanced Budget Plan That Stands Up for California Families “California needs a responsible plan to address the budget deficit caused by the national recession,” Bass said. “The budget the legislature will vote on next week is balanced with a healthy reserve."