Press Release: Coalition of Concerned Californians Want On-Budget--Teachers, Law Enforcement, Firefighters and Local Officials Make Plea to Lawmakers to Pass Budget

For Immediate Release (R1-2003)
June 30, 2003

Contact: William L. Rukeyser, Cal/EPA
916-324-9670 
(cell) 916-715-5852

SAN DIEGO - A broad coalition of concerned Californians came together today to urge Republican lawmakers to pass the Governor Budget. Davis Administration officials, local elected leaders, firefighters and members of the education and law enforcement communities called upon Legislative Republicans to pass California’s budget on-time to protect education and public safety.

The Governor’s Budget provides funds to protect schools, public safety and health insurance for children and ensures that California’s environmental protections will remain the strongest in the nation.

The Governor’s plan prevents draconian cutbacks in environmental protection, improvement of beach health and safety and cleanup of polluted offshore waters. “Governor Davis refuses to walk away from the progress we have made in improving our environment,” said Winston H. Hickox, the Secretary for Environmental Protection. “It is imperative that lawmakers pass the budget so we can continue to deliver on programs that are important to all Californians.”

The coalition contrasted the GOP’s unworkable plan to the Governor’s balanced approach that blends significant cuts with revenue increases. Several leading economists have written to legislative leaders noting the long term damage that solving the problem with cuts alone would have on the state’s economy.

To build on the progress that schools have made Governor Davis has fought to include additional funding for K-12 education and California Community Colleges. His plan protects the University of California and the California State Universities from further cuts while the Republican plan calls for an additional $400 million in cuts for higher education.

Governor Davis refuses to shortchange public safety. His budget continues to fund for the Juvenile Crime Prevention programs and the Spousal Abuse Protection Program. The Governor provided funding to add 3,000 additional law enforcement officials to the street to protect Californians and signed the toughest gun safety laws in America.

The Governor’s budget continues to fund vital environmental programs including protecting water quality, decreasing pollution in the international border region, supporting recycling and making beaches safe and useable.

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