By John Laird, Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee

Members of the Assembly Budget Committee are traveling across the state making sure that Californians understand what is proposed and finding out what you think – so that we can make decisions based on your feedback.

Public education in California is in crisis. A report of the non-partisan Rand Corporation states that California has the largest class sizes in the country and the second highest student-teacher ratio – even after our K-3 class size reductions. Education Weekly ranks California as 44th in the nation in per-pupil education support.

The issue is on the table because the Governor abandoned the agreement he made just last year with the Education Coalition for education funding in California. Last year, he asked the Education Coalition to take a one-time cut of $2 billion in education funding under the voter-approved Proposition 98 education funding guarantee – and in exchange, he would return education support to the required level this year.

Instead, the Governor proposes cutting education by $2.3 billion from the agreement – also a $4 billion a year reduction for each year in future years. He proposes a rewrite of Proposition 98 that would subject schools to automatic cuts if a budget is not adopted – and reduce the minimum guarantee for schools by billions in the coming years.

Overall, the Governor has proposed a budget that still charges almost $3.5 billion to the state credit card, leaves a nearly $5 billion structural deficit in place, and significantly rolls back support for transportation and seniors, as well as education. He also has proposed calling a special election this fall to consider his so-called “reforms.” Though none of his proposals for the ballot would change next year’s budget by even one dime, the election would cost taxpayers $70 million.

State schools chief Jack O’Connell pointed out recently at a budget hearing that with California already 44th among the states in per pupil spending, this budget proposal would lock California into the basement in education support.

California’s future demands that we focus not just on the Governor’s “reform” proposals, but also on the budget. Last year, the Governor was most successful when he worked in a bipartisan manner with the Legislature. This year, he has abandoned that stance, appearing to only want to bully the Legislature into viewing these critical issues from his perspective. "Take it or leave it" is not how he has been successful in the past, and it is hardly the way to make good laws now.

We are looking for the Governor to express a willingness to negotiate in a genuine attempt to find positive solutions to these issues. It is time for him to take time out from photo ops and out-of-state political fund-raising to join us for a discussion of the future we want for California.

We want to know what you want for California’s school children – and how you think we should get there. There are no easy answers. But the only way to have a successful outcome is to talk together, and plan for the future.