SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Sandré R. Swanson (D-Oakland), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Labor and Employment, today responded to Governor Schwarzenegger’s State of the State address calling for a realistic budget solution that is fair, honest, and transparent.  

Governor Schwarzenegger gave his annual State of the State address before the California Legislature.  He stated that California’s budget problem is not the result of a weak economy but is the result of exorbitant spending.  His solution to the problem will be the introduction of a Constitutional Amendment to cap spending and allow mid-year spending cuts and reductions.

“As a Member of the Budget Committee, I respect the Governor’s recognition of a fiscal emergency as the first step toward a candid dialogue to fashion a real solution for our continuing budget problems.  However, I am concerned that he still thinks it’s as simple as a spending problem, not a revenue problem, which means he has failed to recognize that actual State spending has grown less than the California population and inflation over the past four years,” said Swanson. 

According to Assemblymember Swanson, California has faced fiscal troubles since 2000 and the Governor’s previous proposals like the ones presented today were rejected by the legislature and Californians at the polls.  “It’s time we, as legislators, offer a budget solution that will be innovative, transparent and equitable for all Californians.  Our constituents and all Californians deserve our best and honest efforts to produce such a process.  We can no longer tolerate a smoke and mirrors approach that only postpones the inevitable fiscal crisis,” continued Swanson. 

The Governor also stated that he will present a budget that institutes across-the-board cuts and legislation that encourages private-public partnerships, which may help bridge the gap in funding infrastructure projects.  In addition, he spoke about educational reforms by funding and turning around schools in violation of the No Child Left Behind legislation. 

“As a freshman legislator, I came to Sacramento to fight for the education, health and safety of our children, and I will continue to advocate for a budget that reflects this commitment.  I will be very interested in obtaining more details on the Governor’s educational reform proposals,” added Swanson. 

In expressing his concerns about the Governor's proposed cuts and infrastructure proposals, Swanson stated that over 75% of the budget is constitutionally committed to education and services for the poor and elderly.  The California budget demands more than simplistic cookie cutter solutions.  “The Governor's proposal to fix the budget has not changed, and this is why we are now on the doorstep of fiscal disaster.  As a first term legislator, I feel a strong duty to prevent passing this continual budget problem on to future generations.  So it’s imperative that the Governor, in accordance with his pledge of bi-partisanship collaboration, be open and honest in coming to a realistic solution to this crisis as we make educating our children our number one priority,” concluded Assemblymember Swanson.