Here’s what people are saying about California’s state budget deal
Frank J. Mecca, Executive Director of County Welfare Directors Association of California
“Governor Newsom and the Legislature have come together to avoid the deepest cuts to the vital safety net programs that Californians are counting on as they face the continued, dual threats of COVID-19 and the deep recession caused by the economic shutdown. The budget maintains essential assistance including CalWORKs, CalFresh and Medi-Cal that vulnerable children, adults and families are counting on to get through this crisis and that will help to prevent more homelessness and hunger.”
Cynthia Buiza, Executive Director of California Immigrant Policy Center
“As COVID cases and unemployment continue to rise in California, immigrants need support now. Governor Newsom must take action to ensure all Californians are treated with the same compassion and support they need to survive. Immigrants across the state are essential to our economy, to our communities, and to our mutual well-being.”
Bob Schoonover, President of SEIU Local 721 and SEIU California
“This agreement rightfully staves off the worst cuts but only in the short-term. We need our leaders to have the courage to keep fighting. They must do what this moment and what our values demand: tax the rich to build a budget for recovery shaped by the values of justice, equity, and inclusion. More cuts will only hurt working families who have nothing left to give and who need vital services now more than ever.”
Jeff Freitas, President of the California Federation of Teachers
“Our state’s leaders must place California children ahead of the state’s billionaires. In fact, billionaires have only continued to profit as the most vulnerable Californians suffer from a global pandemic and economic downturn. While this budget prevents the worst cuts in the short term, it still puts our students and our communities at risk. As teachers and classified professionals we will continue to demand the revenues our students need to succeed.”
Anthony Wright, Executive Director of Health Access California
“We are glad California will not adopt the worst of the cuts proposed, and won’t, in the middle of a pandemic, deny coverage to tens of thousands of low-income seniors, or access to benefits and health providers for millions more. But we still face an urgent need to raise the revenues to sustain these safety-net services, and to make the investments to recover from the emergencies of public health, economic recession, and gaping inequality. We need legislative action now on revenues to prevent these cuts from reappearing in the next months and years.”
Michael Herald, Director of Policy Advocacy at Western Center on Law & Poverty
“This budget is a step in the right direction because it does not repeat the mistakes of the Great Recession when devastating cuts made the recovery harder and longer. While this budget spares those with the least from further hardship, we need more than that. We need a budget which takes bold steps to eradicate structural racism and inequality. We need the Legislature and the Governor to follow this up with a plan that invests in Black and Brown communities by reprioritizing current spending and taxing the wealthy and corporations who have benefited from the status quo. Time to roll up our sleeves and make this happen.”
Katie Valenzuela, Policy & Political Director for the California Environmental Justice Alliance
“California can address economic inequities while also preparing for the future, but only if the Legislature and Governor commit to action. Especially in light of the plummeting revenue from the May 20th Cap-and-Trade auction, California cannot afford to move forward this fiscal year without addressing the revenue we need to pay for critical programs and to invest in a just and equitable recovery.”
This story was originally published June 22, 2020 at 12:04 PM with the headline "Here’s what people are saying about California’s state budget deal."