From the Globe Political Desk

Assemblyman Sandré R. Swanson (D – Oakland), Chair of the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee, applauded the Democratic victories in the State Budget this week – a balanced budget that contains no new taxes, creates no new programs, pays down debt and has the largest reserve in history.

“Nothing reveals our priorities as a state more than the decisions we make on how to
slice the pie of the state budget. Over all, I am pleased with this budget and satisfied that it reflects my number one priority of promoting the health, safety and education of our children, as well as, maintaining our duty toward schools, the elderly, blind and disabled and other vulnerable Californians like foster kids and the mentally ill,” Swanson said

Swanson noted the 2008 budget fully funds K-12 and higher education—including restoring academic preparation programs that help more kids succeed in college and contribute to our economy, a measure he made the successful motion for as a member of the Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance.

“An investment in education has to be a priority if the state is ever going to have a trained and competitive workforce. California has fallen behind in training and educating workers for the global economy of the 21st century,” he said.

As a freshman legislator, Swanson said he was honored to serve on the Budget committees and help to shape the final budget package that was voted on early this morning through months of prior deliberations and votes.

For example, when the Assembly Budget Subcommittee # 2 on Education Finance considered the Governor’s proposed cut of $80 million for community colleges, Swanson successfully made the motion to retain $40 million for community college enrollment funding, which guarantees access to one of the best community college systems in the United States to any student who wants to take advantage of it.

Swanson was also successful in advancing reforms that will reduce the prison population by decreasing the high rate of released inmates returning to prison. Specifically, Swanson has consistently advocated for funding programs that provide education and technical training for the youth who enter the penal system. In addition, Swanson’s work on the Assembly Select Committee on Youth Violence Prevention led to a landmark $16.5 million to help communities and state and local law enforcement keep kids out of gangs and gangs out of neighborhoods.

Swanson is eager to see the prison population reduced, and inmates prepared to enter society as contributing taxpayers. The California prison budget is $10 billion a year and it is projected that spending on prisons will exceed spending on higher education in the very near future.

“I believe this is going to be one of California’s greatest challenges to overcome,” Swanson stated. “If we don’t address the recidivism rate, the cost of prisons will keep escalating. Rehabilitation of inmates and preventing juveniles from being incarcerated in our penal system will be the key to stopping prisons’ revolving door and saving taxpayers millions of dollars,” he said.

Mr. Swanson also used his position as a member of another budget subcommittee to support budget measures that promote working families and their children. Swanson advocated for proposals that will ensure that folks will have the opportunity to find work and support their families. Specifically, Swanson moved to reject and restore the Governor’s $27.1 million cut and the elimination of 271 positions in the Employment Development Department’s job services program. These funds are the State’s only nonfederal contribution for general employment services, in a state labor market of over 15 million workers. The proposal was rejected and funding restored to ensure we keep Californians working.

In terms of public safety, Swanson successfully moved to increase funding from $50 million to $60 million to establish the California Port Security Grant Program because California ports are essential to maintaining the viability of the state’s economy and the economic health of the United States. Although in the course of eleventh hour negotiations funding for this program was cut to $40 million, Swanson is pleased that the Port Security Grant Program will still be able to provide grants to assist ports in preparing for, responding to, and protecting against acts of terrorism. Specifically, the resources will allow ports, including the Port of Oakland, to implement security strategies developed by the Tri-Area Maritime Security Committee and the California Maritime Security Council.