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California State Senator Mike Morrell, R-Rancho Cucamonga January 9, 2015 issued the following
statement in response to Governor Jerry Brown's draft state budget proposal
for 2015-16:
"The governor's proposed budget continues to address paying
down our state's long-term debt. It is a good step, but there is still more
to do before we can actually call the budget 'balanced.' We must protect
taxpayers and safeguard our children and grandchildren from having to deal
with the $300 billion in unfunded liabilities we face.
"I'm disappointed that the governor remains laser-focused
on the $68-billion high-speed rail boondoggle, when he should be directing
more attention to other pressing priorities like our aging infrastructure. To make matters worse, the train will be
partially funded by the new hidden gas tax that went into effect January 1.
My colleagues and I have introduced Senate Bill 5 to
repeal the tax in the year ahead.
"Additionally, while the budget does boost funding for K-12
schools and community colleges, it still fails to spend every dollar from the
Proposition 30 tax increases on education, as voters were promised. The
governor and the initiative's backers must also keep their commitment to
ensuring tuition rates remain frozen at our state's universities at least
while the taxes are on the books. California's economic viability depends on
the accessibility and affordability of our higher education system.
"As a member of the Senate Budget Committee, I'm ready to
work with the majority party to craft a fiscally responsible state budget
that reins in government expansion and prevents future generations from
having to solve the crises we can and must address now."
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