(Sacramento) - Assemblymember Sandré Swanson (D – Oakland), Chair of the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee and a member of the Assembly Budget Committee, expressed relief as the deadlock in the State Senate was finally broken and the state budget was passed.

“This lengthy impasse has caused a lot of pain and unnecessary financial frustration to service organizations in my district and throughout the state, and especially to the seniors and underserved communities in the state,” Mr. Swanson stated. The budget bill now heads to Governor Schwarzenegger’s desk.

On July 20th, the State Assembly passed a balanced budget that contains no new taxes, creates no new programs, pays down debt and has the largest reserve in history.  Since then, the State Senate has been in a deadlock and unable to achieve the necessary 2/3 majority vote to pass the budget until yesterday. California is one of only three states that requires a 2/3 majority to pass the state’s budget and is the last state to pass a budget this year. The budget bill passed the Senate without any changes, although one trailer bill was amended.

"Nothing reveals our priorities as a state more than the decisions we make on how to slice the pie of the state budget.  Overall, 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.  As Chair of the Labor Committee, I also feel the budget we passed provides fairness in and outside the workplace, and is morally and fiscally responsible," Mr. Swanson observed. “I am cautiously optimistic that the reductions promised by the governor do not alter my legislative priorities to protect education or the poor.” 

Assemblymember Swanson noted with enthusiasm that the 2008 budget fully funds K-12 and higher education—including restoring academic preparation programs that help more children 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.  

Mr. Swanson explained:  "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.  As a member of the committee that addresses the issue of educational finances, I have consistently voted and advocated for a budget that reflects and addresses this challenge."  

As a freshman legislator, Assemblymember Swanson was honored to serve on the Budget Committees that directly addressed the issues as to how our state will finance education, prisons and state agencies.  Consequently, Mr. Swanson was able to shape the final budget package that was voted on yesterday after months of prior deliberations and votes.  

For example, in the Assembly Budget Subcommittee # 2 on Education Finance, Mr. Swanson made a motion, which was approved in the final budget, to restore $19.3 million to Student Academic Preparation and Educational Programs that the Governor's proposed budget would have eliminated.  

Advancing another priority of his, Mr. Swanson was successful as a member of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #4 on State Administration in pushing thoughtful reforms that will reduce the prison population by decreasing the high rate of released inmates returning to prison.  Specifically, Mr. Swanson has consistently advocated for funding programs that provide education and technical training for the youth who enter the penal system.  In addition, Mr. Swanson's work on the Assembly Select Committee on Youth Violence Prevention led to a landmark $9.5 million for local assistance grants that focus on gang prevention, intervention, re-entry, education, job training and skills development, family and community services. In addition, another $7 million was allocated to the California Highway Patrol for gang related enforcement activities.  

Mr. Swanson is eager to see the prison population reduced, and inmates prepared to re-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," Mr. 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.  I oppose the mentality that we can build our way out of this crisis.  While I reject the construction of new prisons as the only solution to prison overcrowding, I support more money for rehabilitation programs.  We need to make sure that prisoners in our custody actually receive rehabilitation services, job training, education and medical services so that our prisons are not revolving doors," the Assemblymember concluded.  

Mr. Swanson also used his position as a member of Budget Subcommittee #4 to support measures that promote working families and their children.  Specifically, Assemblymember 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 non-federal contribution for general employment services, in a state labor market of over 15 million workers.  This would have adversely impacted the state's workforce development system, which connects the network of local One-Stop Career Centers through consistent and direct support services for workers and businesses—including job counseling, job placement, labor market information and referral to community based organizations.  

On the issue of public safety, Mr. 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 funding for this program was cut to $40 million, Mr. 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.

“I am hopeful that the governor will sign the budget quickly and respect our legislative priorities to protect the education of our children, healthcare, and our environment,” Mr. Swanson concluded.