Friends,
Today, the governor announced that the State Budget Shortfall is upwards of $12 billion. A figure, sadly, that is not surprising. Years of overspending, reckless programs, and a total disregard for financial oversight have plagued our State with one of the worst budget deficits in a decade.
Projected cuts include:
- $2.7 billion cut from K-12 education
- $590 million from transportation
- $210 million from higher education
- $850 million from natural resources management
It is important to point out, that while these cuts are being made, Medi-Cal is seeing an increase of almost $3 billion in budget.
We are cutting services for Californians, while continuing to spend money on illegal immigrant healthcare.
California’s house of cards is built on two things: capital gains and collaboration with the Federal Government. Rather than taking precautionary steps to work closely with the federal government during a period of market uncertainty, leadership has decided to fight the Trump administration in every way possible.
Revenue figures and projections are down significantly, with a projected decline of $7.7 billion from initial estimates. Also, the only growing sectors of our Job market are state and local government and healthcare, while private industry like manufacturing and technology are down. Government growth with a declining private sector isn’t real growth.
Declining revenues are not our only issue though. Virtually every program in the State is wildly over budget: $10 billion for illegal immigrant healthcare, $16 billion spent on the bullet train with no clue where the money went, and an expanding welfare system that has spent billions on homelessness with no results. This is the not what Californians voted for.
It is time to make meaningful cuts to wasteful programs, and prioritize Californian’s first. To my Democrat colleagues, it’s time to look in the mirror. Together, we can build an abundant, prosperous society, free of over-regulation and a state that works for every Californian.
– David
Serving Calaveras, Fresno, Inyo, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, and Tuolumne counties.