Notes on the Budget, Union Contract and Transportation Tax Debate
Not all the Democrats in the legislature got what they wanted in the budget agreement, but the two legislative leaders got something that they wanted, smoothing the way for an on-time budget. Assembly Speaker John Perez got funds for middle class students attending state universities and Senate Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg got money for mental […]
Governor’s Budget Agreement Ushers in New Era of School Spending
Governor Jerry Brown’s budget agreement with top lawmakers over school funding marks a pivotal moment in the future of California. The budget deal’s core statute – the way state money will be redistributed to schools – is what will define the state moving forward, and in a positive way. For months now, education advocates and […]
GOP Senators Vote For $2.3 Billion Car Tax
A massive car tax (actually a collection of various taxes and fees) that was signed into law in 2007 (with no GOP support except, of course, then-Senator Abel Maldonado), billed as “temporary” at the time, is currently set to expire in 2015. Given that Californians face some of the highest levels of taxation in the […]
School Budget Changes: 3 Reasons to Hold the Champagne
The news that Gov. Jerry Brown appears to have mostly gotten his way on school funding changes is likely to be presented as a dramatic victory for the people who believe helping struggling English learners is the key challenge facing California education. But it’s one thing to believe that this is the key challenge, as […]