Local party supports state leadership in finding sensible budget
June 15, 2009
Sonoma County Democratic Party releases statement on state budget
Local party supports state leadership in finding sensible budget solution
Santa Rosa, CA – The Sonoma County Democratic Party took a strong stand in opposition to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget at their June 9 meeting in Santa Rosa and vowed to mobilize support for a budget that invests in the future of the state and protects all Californians.
Democrats are outraged that drastic spending cuts proposed by the governor to close the state’s $24.3 billion budget deficit will disproportionately affect children, seniors, people with disabilities and poor people.
“The severe cuts proposed by the governor will devastate middle class and low-income families in the state of California,” said Stephen Gale, chair of the Sonoma County Democratic Party, “We are committed to working with the state legislature to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
The local Democratic Party supports Assemblywoman Noreen Evans, chair of the Budget Conference Committee, and other members of the state legislature who recognize that the state budget crisis cannot be solved strictly through making cuts and eliminating programs, but must also include ways of raising revenue.
Full text of the statement follows. The Sonoma County Democratic Party adopted this statement on June 9, 2009 by unanimous vote of the local party’s Central Committee:
Statement Concerning the California State Budget
Californians deserve real solutions to the budget deficit. Responding to our economic crisis with an all-cuts budget will only make the state's problems worse. Deep cuts to vital programs undermine our economic recovery and President Obama’s investment in economic stimulus, disproportionately harm the most vulnerable Californians, and go against our core values.
More than 70 percent of voters sat out the May 19 special election because it is the Governor and Legislature’s job to fix the budget. Polls show the defeat of the initiatives was neither an endorsement of an all-cuts approach nor a rejection of raising revenues.
Under Governor Schwarzenegger, California has seen $12.5 billion in tax cuts. The Governor has vetoed every bill passed by the legislature to streamline programs, increase revenues and balance the budget in a fiscally responsible manner. Drastic spending cuts will irrevocably change the state we love. Californians support and deserve a state that provides for the common good and the needs of our residents, and we have the resources
to make that possible. Cuts are not the only option!
We support the courageous leadership of Assemblywoman Noreen Evans and the Democrats who stand against an all-cuts budget, speak out for fair ways of raising revenue, and work to deliver a budget that invests in our future and protects all the people of our state. True leaders get their strength from the people they represent. We pledge to be that strength, and mobilize to support a sensible budget solution.
Contact: Stephen Gale, Chair
Sonoma County Democratic Party
(707) 537-9348
stephengale1@yahoo.com
