Contact: Richard Stapler, Richard.Stapler@sen.ca.gov
SACRAMENTO – The chair of the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) issued the following statement today in response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s May Revision:
“I am pleased to see continued and expanded investment in the wellbeing of California students and their families, efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change by forging a greener energy and transportation future, and support for small businesses and families who are still feeling the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
The Governor’s proposed expenditure of the state’s unprecedented $68 billion in available General Fund resources reflects a commitment to all Californians by upholding the priorities shared in the January budget and continued support for reducing homelessness, expanding healthcare services, particularly for the most vulnerable in our communities, and ensuring education is more affordable.
The Governor's May Revision includes initiatives that continue to be priorities of the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education, including support for faculty and staff, reduced student time to degree, targeted support for underrepresented groups, continued enrollment of California resident undergraduates and an overarching focus on improved student and workforce outcomes. I am glad to see the Governor's proposals in Higher Education to provide support for faculty and staff, reduce student time to degree and increase funds for colleges within all three segments.
Moving forward, I am eager to continue discussions with the Administration and my colleagues on the proposed changes, including increasing discretionary funds to K-12 schools, ensuring higher education compacts and roadmaps hit expected goals, and the infusion of dollars to address outstanding facility maintenance issues.
I applaud and support Governor Newsom’s proposals to expand access to reproductive healthcare services for all Californians and those in other states who need assistance. The proposed investments through grants to reproductive healthcare providers to offer abortion care and reproductive healthcare information are a step toward reproductive justice, while nationally we are seeing far too many step back on progress.
As Chair of the Senate Working Group on Climate Change, I can confidently share this year’s historic budget surplus could not have come at a better time for targeted climate investments in drought resilience, offshore wind development, building decarbonization, and the expansion of green jobs – jobs that support Californians and their families while building a brighter future for generations to come.
My colleagues in the Senate and the Assembly look forward to continued collaboration with the Governor as we work to pass a budget that reflects the best for all Californians by the June 15 constitutional deadline."
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Senator John Laird represents the 17th State Senate District, which includes all of Santa Cruz and San Luis Obispo counties, the majority of Monterey County, as well as parts of Santa Clara County. He previously served as the Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency, member of the State Integrated Waste Management Board, a member of the State Assembly, Executive Director of the Santa Cruz Aids Project, and two terms as Santa Cruz Mayor. His lifetime of public service and social justice advocacy saw him become one of the first openly gay mayors to serve in the United States. Senator Laird has been a long-time resident of Santa Cruz with his spouse John Flores.