"It's amazing what can be accomplished when Democrats and Republicans work together in Sacramento," said Schwarzenegger. "I want to thank the legislative leadership - Senators Don Perata and Dick Ackerman, Speaker Fabian Nunez and Assembly Republican Leader George Plescia - for all their hard work on the budget. We put politics aside and were driven by the overwhelming desire to do what's best for the people of California. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell said he is pleased by the budget. "The budget passed by the Legislature brings welcome support to education in California, making good on past debts to our schools and investing in sorely needed classroom programs," he said. Barbara E. Kerr, president of the 335,000-member California Teachers Association , also likes the direction of the new budget. “The timely approval of the new state budget is good news for our public schools and students," she said. "School districts and teachers can now plan ahead. The nearly six percent cost-of-living-adjustment will allow local schools to restore funding to education programs that have been cut over the past few years and provide for salary increases." Still, Kerr, said, the budget doesn't go far enough. “This budget is a down payment on the debt owed to our schools. Teachers will continue to work with the governor and the Legislature to ensure repayment of the $3 billion still owed to our schools under Proposition 98 and the lawsuit settlement agreement announced last month. That money will help our schools of greatest need reduce class sizes, improve teacher training and increase parental involvement." How the budget affects the New Haven Unified School District and James Logan High School, or the James Logan Courier, specifically is not yet clear. State Treasurer Phil Angelides, who is running for governor against Schwarzenegger, liked the increased education funding, and praised his fellow Democrats in the legislature for that, but criticized the entire budget for being out of balance. “On higher education, Democrats in the Legislature did the right thing, when the governor would not, and gained a $ 6 per unit rollback in community college fees," he said in a statement. "That is a start. But the governor’s budget will still leave community college fees nearly double what they were just three years ago. And the budget will also leave untouched the fees at CSU and UC, which have increased by $2,000 and $5,000 respectively under Governor Schwarzenegger." The budget largely mirrors the May Revise, which has since prompted all three Wall Street credit rating agencies to upgrade the state credit rating, reducing the cost of state borrowing. One of the agencies, Fitch, Inc., cited "California's continuing economic recovery, strong revenue performance and continued progress in reducing fiscal imbalance" when upgrading their rating on the state's general obligation debt from A to A+ last month. Standard and Poor's also raised its rating from A to A+ in May. Moody's Investors Service raised its rating from A2 to A1 the same month. Law Enforcement - The budget includes an additional $196 million to support law enforcement efforts, including money to fund Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement teams, 500 GPS devices to track and monitor the highest-risk parolees and four new Gang Suppression Enforcement Teams. The budget also proposes the addition of 235 California Highway Patrol positions, includes $56.4 million to replace the CHP's existing radio system and allocates $6.4 million to handle the increasing number of wireless 9-1-1 calls. Additionally, the budget includes a $ 20 million investment to strengthen efforts to fight methamphetamine trafficking and $6 million to create three new California Methamphetamine Strategy program teams.
"It's amazing what can be accomplished when Democrats and Republicans work together in Sacramento," said Schwarzenegger. "I want to thank the legislative leadership - Senators and Dick Ackerman, Speaker Fabian Nunez and Assembly Republican Leader George Plescia - for all their hard work on the budget. We put politics aside and were driven by the overwhelming desire to do what's best for the people of California. said he is pleased by the budget. "The budget passed by the Legislature brings welcome support to education in California, making good on past debts to our schools and investing in sorely needed classroom programs," he said. Barbara E. Kerr, president of the 335,000-member , also likes the direction of the new budget. “The timely approval of the new state budget is good news for our public schools and students," she said. "School districts and teachers can now plan ahead. The nearly six percent cost-of-living-adjustment will allow local schools to restore funding to education programs that have been cut over the past few years and provide for salary increases." Still, Kerr, said, the budget doesn't go far enough. “This budget is a down payment on the debt owed to our schools. Teachers will continue to work with the governor and the Legislature to ensure repayment of the $3 billion still owed to our schools under Proposition 98 and the lawsuit settlement agreement announced last month. That money will help our schools of greatest need reduce class sizes, improve teacher training and increase parental involvement." How the budget affects the and , or the, specifically is not yet clear. , who is running for governor against Schwarzenegger, liked the increased education funding, and praised his fellow Democrats in the legislature for that, but criticized the entire budget for being out of balance. “On higher education, Democrats in the Legislature did the right thing, when the governor would not, and gained a $ 6 per unit rollback in community college fees," he said in a statement. "That is a start. But the governor’s budget will still leave community college fees nearly double what they were just three years ago. And the budget will also leave untouched the fees at CSU and UC, which have increased by $2,000 and $5,000 respectively under Governor Schwarzenegger." The budget largely mirrors the May Revise, which has since prompted all three Wall Street credit rating agencies to upgrade the state credit rating, reducing the cost of state borrowing. One of the agencies, , cited "California's continuing economic recovery, strong revenue performance and continued progress in reducing fiscal imbalance" when upgrading their rating on the state's general obligation debt from A to A+ last month. also raised its rating from A to A+ in May. raised its rating from A2 to A1 the same month. Law Enforcement - The budget includes an additional $196 million to support law enforcement efforts, including money to fund Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement teams, 500 GPS devices to track and monitor the highest-risk parolees and four new Gang Suppression Enforcement Teams. The budget also proposes the addition of 235 California Highway Patrol positions, includes $56.4 million to replace the CHP's existing radio system and allocates $6.4 million to handle the increasing number of wireless calls. Additionally, the budget includes a $ 20 million investment to strengthen efforts to fight methamphetamine trafficking and $6 million to create three new California Methamphetamine Strategy program teams.
D
Don Perata
D
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell
D
California Teachers Association
R
$3 billion still owed to our schools under Proposition 98 and the lawsuit settlement agreement announced last month. That money will help our schools of greatest need reduce class sizes, improve teacher training and increase parental involvement." How the budget affects the New Haven Unified School District and James Logan High School, or the James Logan Courier, specifically is not yet clear. State Treasurer Phil Angelides, who is running for governor against Schwarzenegger, liked the increased education funding, and praised his fellow Democrats in the legislature for that, but criticized the entire budget for being out of balance. “On higher education, Democrats in the Legislature did the right thing, when the governor would not, and gained a $
$3 billion still owed to our schools under Proposition 98 and the lawsuit settlement agreement announced last month. That money will help our schools of greatest need reduce class sizes, improve teacher training and increase parental involvement." How the budget affects the and , or the, specifically is not yet clear. , who is running for governor against Schwarzenegger, liked the increased education funding, and praised his fellow Democrats in the legislature for that, but criticized the entire budget for being out of balance. “On higher education, Democrats in the Legislature did the right thing, when the governor would not, and gained a $
R
Fitch, Inc.,
,
D
Standard and Poor's
D
Moody's Investors Service
R
$6.4 million to handle the increasing number of wireless 9-1-1 calls. Additionally, the budget includes a $
$6.4 million to handle the increasing number of wireless calls. Additionally, the budget includes a $