(Sacramento) – Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles), responding to questions this morning on the state’s fiscal situation, said she’s disappointed that Governor Schwarzenegger and Republican Senators blocked legislation that could have prevented the state from issuing IOUs. Speaker Bass says the state is now several billion dollars deeper in the hole as a result of those actions. “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.” Here’s more in this Assembly Access video.

Today Governor Schwarzenegger becomes only the second Governor since the Depression to have IOUs issued on his watch. Today he has abdicated his fiscal responsibilities and effectively turns California's finances over to Treasurer Bill Lockyer and Controller John Chiang.

(Sacramento) – The California budget is more than just a pile of financial papers…it’s a reflection of the values of all Californians. The Assembly/Senate Conference Committee’s budget plan solves California’s deficit responsibly with the balanced approach Californians want:  Real cuts, limited new revenues and other solutions that help California ward off a cash crisis later this summer. As Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) has stated the Conference Committee plan also maintains the safety net real California families depend on. Here’s more in this Assembly Access video  "Reflecting Our Values"

SACRAMENTO - In this Democratic weekly address, Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) and Assemblymember Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) outline the Democratic budget proposal the Assembly and Senate will vote on next week. They say that while the Democratic budget proposal will have real and painful cuts, it rejects Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposals to cut $700 million from schools, eliminate California’s safety net and take Cal Grants away from students.

Click here for the YouTube video of Speaker Bass’s address. The running time is 2:16.

Click here for the English language MP3 file. The running time is 2:09.

Click here for the Spanish language MP3 file. The running time is 2:56.

(Sacramento) – For thousands of students leaving high school, and for their families, college is a dream…a dream supported by the Cal Grant program. The Governor’s proposal to effectively eliminate the Cal Grant program will shatter those dreams. Cal Grants provides the financial assistance that thousands of low and middle income families need to ensure their students can realize their dreams of going to college. Cal Grants are also an investment in the state’s future. It helps create the educated workforce the business community needs to rebuild the state’s economy.  Get involved, don't let the Governor and Republicans in the legislature shatter the dreams of our kids. Click to view our Assembly Access video: "Shattered Dreams".

Sacramento) - Assemblymember Julia Brownley (D-Santa Monica) is calling on her fellow legislators to reject the Governors efforts to wipe out the popular Cal Grant program. During a news conference at a community college Assemblymember Brownley, Chair of the Education Committee, said, The Cal Grant program is a lifeline to college for many of our states best and brightest high school graduates. An investment in these students is an investment in Californias future. The Governors proposed elimination of the Cal Grant program will end up costing Californians money in the long run. Here’s more in this Assembly Access video.

(Sacramento) –Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) and Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) today presented the budget proposal approved by the legislature’s joint Budget Conference Committee yesterday that addresses California’s budget shortfall with a balanced approach including real cuts, limited new revenues and other responsible solutions. The Budget Conference Committee proposal addresses the state’s entire deficit and maintains a budget reserve of $3.8 billion. Here’s more in this Assembly Access video.

Sacramento - Assemblymember Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), chair of the State Legislature’s Budget Conference Committee, under the leadership of Speaker Karen Bass is working to prepare a realistic budget that maintains the California safety net and balances the state’s books. After approximately 30 hours of committee meetings devoted to receiving public comments since mid-May, Assemblymember Evans says the Conference Committee is working to balance the need to make decisions quickly with making those decisions correctly. And, says Evans, the Governor’s tardy delivery of details for his budget plan does not make that job any easier. Here’s more in this Assembly Web report.

Sacramento - The Budget Conference Committee is continuing to meet daily at the state capitol, searching for ways to reduce Californias massive budget deficit. However, some of the program eliminations and reductions proposed in the Governors revised budget will endanger the lives of the most vulnerable people in the state and will likely end up costing the state more in the long run by pushing those affected by the budget cuts into more expensive programs and the loss of matching federal dollars. Assembly Democrats believe smarter, more responsible budget solutions are needed.