SACRAMENTO – State Senator John Laird, Chair of the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education, released the following statement today regarding Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recent January Budget proposal for 2025-2026.
“As Chair of the Budget Subcommittee on Education, I am steadfast in my commitment to safeguarding the transformative investments and initiatives we have made to date in our robust TK-12 education and higher education systems. I am disappointed reductions have been proposed in both the University of California and California State University budgets. We will explore ways to restore these cuts, particularly to the CSUs. I do applaud the Prop. 98 COLA, as it is vital we maintain our commitments to education.
While current projections indicate no deficit, the incoming federal administration has signaled plans to withdraw funding for vital programs that Californians depend on. We must prioritize protecting funding for education, climate initiatives, transportation, firefighting, and efforts to reduce the cost of living for Californians.
I look forward to working in partnership with all stakeholders to ensure a balanced and sustainable budget that address these critical priorities.”
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Senator John Laird represents the 17th State Senate District, which includes all of Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey Counties, as well as the majority of San Luis Obispo County. More information on Senator Laird can be found here.