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SACRAMENTO -- Assemblywoman Patty Berg, D-Eureka, on Tuesday joined with fellow Democrats in offering a bond package that would generate about $30 billion for schools, hospitals and other infrastructure projects.
”It's time to get down to specifics and set a course if we're going to give voters the kind of bond package they want to see,” said Berg.
The bond package comes on the heels of a proposal put out by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a plan criticized by many Democrats.
Berg's comments came shortly after Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez outlined a $30 billion plan to upgrade and modernize California's public schools and community colleges. His proposal, designed to be spread over two election cycles, also includes money to improve the state's mass transit and highway systems, levees, air quality and protect the state's hospitals from earthquake damage.
As outlined Tuesday, the Assembly Democratic plan features $2.7 billion for new schools; $2.7 billion for upgrades to existing schools; $1.1 billion for charter schools, seismic safety, and career technology facilities; $1.5 billion for community colleges; and $1.4 billion each for the UC and CSU systems.
The bond package also includes money for flood control, regional water management and water quality, including safe drinking water and wastewater treatment. Another part of the bond targets the backlog of maintenance projects in state parks, habitat preservation and urban parks.
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