SACRAMENTO – California Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) responded this morning to Governor Schwarzenegger’s budget address to a joint session of the State Legislature. Bass was joined at the news conference by Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), Assembly Budget Committee Chair Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) and Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield (D-Woodland).
Bass made the following statement:
“The Governor clearly understands the seriousness of the situation and we appreciate his willingness to be a partner in finding serious solutions.
Our open Conference Committee is continuing to review the Governor’s proposals in a very public, diligent way.
Not all the Governor’s proposals make sense – should we be the only state without a safety net? Should we eliminate efficient programs that bring in federal money? There are tough decisions ahead but they have to be smart decisions as well.
Everything has to be considered, but we have to be creative and we have to be courageous in taking the steps to solve this problem.
In addition to closing the budget deficit we’re also getting a head start looking at important reforms so once the deficit is solved we can start looking at ways to keep California from getting in this situation again.”
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Click onto the following links for audio clips of Bass at the news conference:
Speaker Bass’s opening remarks at post speech news conference. (1:48)
http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/Newsline/Audio/20090602GovReactBass.mp3
Speaker Bass says the Budget Conference Committee is reviewing every line of the Governor’s revised budget proposal. (:15)
http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/Newsline/Audio/20090602GovReactBass1.mp3
Speaker Bass says she agrees with “a lot of the Governor’s proposal” but says she’s concerned about eliminating the safety net. (:16)
http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/Newsline/Audio/20090602GovReactBass2.mp3
Speaker Bass says the Legislature is looking for revenue solutions as well. (:24)
http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/Newsline/Audio/20090602GovReactBass3.mp3
Speaker Bass says she expects some solutions to be finalized by the middle of this month. (:12)
http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/Newsline/Audio/20090602GovReactBass4.mp3
Speaker Bass says she’s concerned about the effectiveness of private prisons. (:15)
http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/Newsline/Audio/20090602GovReactBass5.mp3
Speaker Bass says long term solutions like private prisons and the sale of state assets do not address the immediate crisis. (:15)
http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/Newsline/Audio/20090602GovReactBass6.mp3
Speaker Bass says it’s unclear at this time how deep the cuts to the education budget will be. (:17)
http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/Newsline/Audio/20090602GovReactBass7.mp3
Website of Speaker Karen Bass: www.asm.ca.gov/speaker