Dear Friend,

We are facing the largest budget deficit in California’s history and we have some very tough choices to make to balance our budget in the upcoming weeks.

I believe that the most important job of an elected official is to listen. That is why I am emailing you this survey. As we face making severe cuts to services and programs, I want to learn more about what’s important to you and your family.

Please take a few minutes to fill out the survey. Let me know what your priorities are for state government, and what services you would like to see us retain and what cuts you would like to see made.

We are at a crossroads on what we want the future of California to be. I would deeply appreciate your advice and suggestions on how we can address this budget crisis.

I will personally read all the surveys that are returned and will send you information about how we are following up on your concerns and suggestions. If you would like to talk further about any issues, please feel free to call me at my office: (562) 989-2919.

Thank you for your support. Together we can build a better California.

Warren T. Furutani
State Assembly Member, District 55

Video

---

Conference Committee Continues Work on Quick AND Responsible Budget Actions

Sacramento - Assemblymember Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), chair of the State Legislature's Budget Conference Committee, under the leadership of Speaker Karen Bass is working to prepare a realistic budget that maintains the California safety net and balances the state's books. After approximately 30 hours of committee meetings devoted to receiving public comments since mid-May, Assemblymember Evans says the Conference Committee is working to balance the need to make decisions quickly with making those decisions correctly. And, says Evans, the Governor's tardy delivery of details for his budget plan does not make that job any easier. Here's more in this Assembly Web report.

---

Spending Cuts May Endanger Californians, Cost State More Later

Sacramento - The Budget Conference Committee is continuing to meet daily at the state capitol, searching for ways to reduce Californias massive budget deficit. However, some of the program eliminations and reductions proposed in the Governors revised budget will endanger the lives of the most vulnerable people in the state and will likely end up costing the state more in the long run by pushing those affected by the budget cuts into more expensive programs and the loss of matching federal dollars. Assembly Democrats believe smarter, more responsible budget solutions are needed.

---

Budget Committee Chair Exposes Budget Myths from California Assembly Access on Vimeo.

---

Assemblymember Warren T. Furutani Named Legislator of the Year by the Faculty Association of California Community Colleges

SACRAMENTO - The Faculty Association of California Community Colleges (FACCC) announced today that Assemblymember Warren T. Furutani has been chosen as FACCC’s Legislator of the Year for 2009.

In a letter to the Assemblymember, William Hewitt, President of FACC, wrote “FACCC has unanimously selected you as the recipient of our Legislator of the Year Award. Your advocacy on behalf of community colleges, particularly your leadership in securing an automatic property tax backfill and your organization of a community college caucus, has merited you recognition from faculty leaders across California.”

“I’m deeply honored that FACCC has awarded me as Legislator of the Year” said Assemblymember Furutani.“Being a partner toward advancing the mission of California’s Community Colleges is one of my top priorities during my tenure as an Assemblymember.”

Assemblymember Furutani was elected to the California State Assembly in a special election in February 2008 and re-elected in the same year to his first full two-year term. He serves the 55th Assembly District, which includes the cities of Carson, Harbor City and the Harbor Gateway, Lakewood, parts of Long Beach, and Wilmington.

---

Furutani Introduces Legislation to Aid Career Technical Education and Higher Education

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Warren T. Furutani (D-South Los Angeles County) today introduced a series of bills to aid the administration and funding of career technical education, higher education, and workforce development.

read more...

---

Furutani names Wilmington icon "Women of the Year" Awardee

Assemblymember Warren T. Furutani announced that Wilmington resident Connie Calderon will be recognized as the "55th District Women of the Year" Award Recipient in the Capitol Monday morning. Connie, a life long fixture in the Wilmington community, recently retired after serving as the Director of the Wilmington Teen Center.

Read more...