Tough Times, Tough Choices

The state is facing an extremely tough economic time and another very difficult budget year. California’s economy is the most diverse in the nation and that diversity has kept it strong. But with the subprime mortgage crisis and the faltering national economy revenues have significantly declined. Now we are facing a multi-billion dollar budget deficit and are faced with making very tough choices.

The Governor has just realeased his May Revision of the budget. In his budget the Governor stood firm to make certain that this plan does not raise taxes. And, that is good news for California's families and small businesses already struggling to make ends meet during these tough economic times.

This plan also makes significant and painful cuts to education, healthcare and public safety while at the same time bringing real and needed reforms to cut our waste, fraud and abuse in state government.  None of these choices were easy to make, but they were necessary to ensure our state lives within our means.

The next step is for the Legislature to review this plan over the next few weeks and pass an ontime budget by June 15, 2010.

Email your legislators today, ask them to pass an ontime budget this year without raising taxes.