SACRAMENTO – In this Democratic weekly address, Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) highlights comments he made to business leaders and local mayors this week that job creation must be the priority in budget negotiations and that California cannot afford another summer of ideological warfare.

English language MP3 file. The running time is 3:03.

Spanish language MP3 file. The running time is 4:24.

CONTACT: Shannon Murphy (916) 319-2408

Website of Speaker John A. Pérez: www.asmdc.org/speaker

Transcript:

Hello, I’m Assembly Speaker John Pérez.

As the budget process continues in Sacramento, Legislative Democrats have unveiled a unified proposal that reflects the core values of Californians, focuses on job creation and begins closing our long-term structural deficit.

Our first, last and only priority right now needs to be job creation. Until the 2.3 million Californians who are currently unemployed can find new jobs, our economy will not recover and our budget will continue to be in deficit.

That means that as we continue negotiations, we need to be making choices that will help our economy recover and put Californians back to work.

The budget proposal we have unveiled reflects that critical priority.

We provide full funding for education, including higher education, because a well-educated work force is essential for our long term economic growth. We repay schools for years of Sacramento’s borrowing to avoid lay-offs off the 35,000 teachers and school employees who have already received pink slips.

We also repay local governments so that they have the resources to avoid having to lay off the cops and firefighters who keep Californians safe. Just two weeks ago, the City of Oakland was forced to lay off 80 police officers. Countless other cities are facing the same difficult choice, and we need to ensure they have the resources to keep our people safe and keep those cops on the street.

We begin closing the long-term structural deficit by devolving services to the counties so they can be provided more efficiently at the local level.

We reject the Governor’s cuts to programs that provide training and transition into the workforce for unemployed Californians. We also reject his proposal to eliminate child care assistance that would force more than 50,000 small businesses to close.

The centerpiece of our proposal is to put aside 1 billion dollars in targeted job creation programs in areas like green technology and small business growth.

This is the most important component of our package, because the pathway out of this recession is through creating quality, high paying, private sector jobs that put Californians back to work.

Californians cannot afford another bruising summer of ideological warfare. The challenges facing our state are simply too great for anyone to be more concerned about their party’s base voters than about putting Californians back to work.

The Governor and his Republican allies need to back away from their ideological corner and propose real solutions that won’t cost California hundreds of thousands of jobs and ruin our recovery.

Legislative Democrats will continue to fight for a budget that helps our economy, puts Californians back to work and closes our long-term deficit. Reducing the unemployment rate and creating quality jobs should be the only thing that matters in Sacramento as we approve the budget.

This has been Speaker John Pérez. Thanks for listening.

SACRAMENTO – En el mensaje demócrata semanal, el presidente de la Asamblea John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles), destaca los comentarios que presentó esta semana a los lideres empresariales y alcaldes donde la creación de empleos debe ser la prioridad principal en las negociaciones del presupuesto y que California no puede darse el lujo de otro verano con peleas ideológicas.

Portal del presidente de la Asamblea John A. Pérez: www.asmdc.org/speaker

– MENSAJE RADIAL –

Hola les saluda John Pérez, presidente de la Asamblea estatal de California.

Así como el proceso del presupuesto continúa en Sacramento, los legisladores demócratas hemos presentado una propuesta unida que refleja el centro de los valores de los californianos, con un enfoque en la creación de empleos y empezar a cerrar nuestro profundo déficit estructural.

Nuestra primera, última y única prioridad del momento debe ser la creación de empleos.

Y hasta que los 2.3 millones de californianos actualmente desempleados encuentren nuevos empleos, su economía no se va a recuperar y nuestro presupuesto seguirá en déficit.

Eso significa que en nuestras negociaciones, debemos hacer las decisiones que ayuden a nuestra economía a recuperarse y poner a los californianos de vuelta a trabajar.

El plan del presupuesto que hemos presentado refleja esa vital prioridad.

Nosotros entregamos todos los fondos para la educación, incluso para la educación universitaria, porque una fuerza laboral bien educada es esencial para nuestro crecimiento económico de largo plazo. Devolvemos los fondos que Sacramento adeuda a las escuelas por préstamos de años para evitar el despido de 35,000 maestros y personal escolar los cuales ya han recibido cartas de despido.

Nosotros también devolvemos los fondos a los gobiernos locales para que tengan los recursos y eviten tener que despedir bomberos y policías que resguardan el bienestar de los californianos. Hace solamente 2 semanas, la ciudad de Oakland se vio forzada a despedir a 80 policías. Un sin número de otras ciudades se han visto en la misma situación, y nosotros debemos asegurar que los recursos existen para mantener a nuestra gente a salvo y a esos policías patrullando las calles.

Nosotros hemos comenzado a cerrar el largo déficit estructural al trasladar los servicios a los condados para que a nivel local puedan ser proporcionados en forma más eficaz.

Nosotros rechazamos los recortes del gobernador a los programas que otorgan capacitación y transición de empleos a los californianos desempleados. Nosotros también rechazamos su propuesta de eliminar la asistencia para el cuidado de niños que obligar a más de 50,000 pequeños negocios a cerrar.

La pieza central de nuestro presupuesto es destinar mil millones de dólares a la creación de programas de empleos en áreas como la tecnología verde y el crecimiento de la pequeña empresa.

Este es el componente más importante de nuestro paquete, porque el camino para salir de esta recesion es a través de la creación de buenos y bien pagados empleos en el sector privado para poner a los californianos de vuelta a trabajar.

California no puede darse el lujo de pasar otro verano con peleas ideológicas. Los desafíos que confronta nuestro estado son simplemente muy grandes para que alguien se preocupe más de su base de votos partidaria que poner a los californianos de vuelta a trabajar.

El gobernador y sus aliados republicanos necesitan analizar y alejarse de su esquina ideológica y proponer soluciones reales que no cuesten a California cientos de miles de empleos y la ruina de nuestra recuperación económica.

Los legisladores demócratas seguiremos luchando por el presupuesto que ayude a nuestra economía, ponga a los californianos de vuelta a trabajar y cerrar nuestro profundo déficit fiscal. Reducir el porcentaje del desempleo y crear trabajos de buena calidad debería ser lo único que importa en Sacramento cuando aprobemos el presupuesto.

Les habló John Pérez, presidente de la Asamblea estatal de California. Gracias por su atención.

NORTH HOLLYWOOD –Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) gave a keynote address to the Valley Industry & Commerce Association (VICA) today highlighting targeted jobs initiatives that will spur private sector job creation as part of the Legislative Democrats’ California Jobs Budget proposal.

“The centerpiece of our proposal is set aside one billion dollars in targeted, private sector job creation programs,” Pérez said. “This is truly the most vital component. The decisions we make this year can wipe out the modest economic gains we’ve seen—or they can help to lay the foundation for a return to future prosperity.”

The California Jobs Budget provides $1 billion for targeted jobs strategies to develop and strengthen California private sector industries, including green and clean tech industries.  These investments stand to generate tens of thousands more private sector jobs and strengthen California's economy for a generation.  This provides a potential funding source for numerous Democratic and Republican jobs bills that are making their way in both houses of the Legislature this year.

“When we approach the budget, there should be only one calculation we use: will this budget help or hurt our economy?” Pérez said. “Restoring health to our economy has to be the only motivating factor in Sacramento. Putting the 2.3 million unemployed Californians back to work is our paramount task.”

The California Jobs Budget also supports private sector employment by maintaining basic services California workers rely on such as childcare programs funded through CalWORKS and Prop 98. that allow 50,000 small business childcare providers to stay in business and let working parents to go to work and earn a paycheck.

Critical employment services that move people from welfare to work and retrain workers at Community Colleges are also maintained.  The California Jobs Budget provides $100 million for a 400% increase for the Economic Development Program, which successfully gets unemployed Californians back to work.

Since becoming Speaker in March, Pérez has supported private sector job growth by moving key bills through the Legislature, including bills he authored to create jobs and help homeowners by providing $10,000 homebuyers tax credits as well as to provide a sales tax exemption on the equipment manufacturers buy as they expand green business in California.

“At the same time we approved the homebuyers tax credit, we also approved a green technology tax exemption,” Pérez said. “This credit exempts the sales tax on the purchase of any equipment used to manufacture green technology. Already we see the benefits of this credit, with Tesla’s announcement that they’d be reopening the NUMMI Plant in Fremont.”

CONTACT: Shannon Murphy (916) 319-2408

Website of Speaker John A. Pérez: www.asmdc.org/speaker

SACRAMENTO – In this Democratic weekly address, Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) and Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) discuss the guiding principles uniting Legislative Democrats as efforts to finalize a budget continue.

English language MP3 file. The running time is 2:15.

Spanish language MP3 file. The running time is 3:12.

CONTACT: Shannon Murphy (Pérez) (916) 319-2408

CONTACT: Nathan Barankin (Steinberg) (916) 651-4188

Website of Speaker John A. Pérez: www.asmdc.org/speaker

Website of President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg: http://dist06.casen.govoffice.com/

Transcript:

Hello, this is Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg.

And I’m Assembly Speaker John Pérez.

As we continue the hard work of closing the state budget deficit, Legislative Democrats are united behind a balanced and responsible set of principles to protect jobs, improve government and close our deficit.

We recognize the fundamental truth that the only way to truly stabilize our economy and budget situation is to create quality jobs.

The Governor’s proposed budget will cost Californians more than 430,000 jobs—boosting our unemployment rate to 14.5 percent. In and of itself, that makes his plan unacceptable.

Our budget proposal fully funds K through 12 and higher education because a well-educated workforce is essential to our long-term economic growth.

We protect public safety by rejecting the Governor’s proposal to shift nearly $4 billion in costs to cities and counties.

They will then be able to avoid firing the cops and firefighters who keep us safe.

We reject the idea that the poor, sick and elderly Californians should have to bear the brunt of our budget deficit.

We offer a serious proposal to restructure state government so vital services can be provided more efficiently at the local level and reduce the burden on the state.

We recognize the importance of maximizing job growth in both the private and public sectors, and any final budget agreement must include investment in job creation.

Our plan avoids raising taxes on California families by instead closing the Oil Drilling Loophole to end the oil industry’s free ride and delay the implementation of new corporate tax breaks.

Having the oil industry pay its fair share is key to avoiding the Governor’s proposed elimination of 430,000 jobs.

Californians need to be clear on this point: Legislative Democrats have put forward the ONLY responsible and realistic proposal to close our deficit and put Californians back to work.

We have a balanced approach that will help the economy get back on the path to prosperity.

This is President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg.

And I’m Assembly Speaker John Pérez.

Thank you for listening.

SACRAMENTO – En el mensaje demócrata semanal, el presidente de la Asamblea John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles), comenta sobre los principios que guían la unidad de los legisladores demócratas a medida que los esfuerzos por finalizar el presupuesto continúan.

– MENSAJE RADIAL –

Hola les saluda John Pérez, presidente de la Asamblea estatal de California.

Así como continuamos con el duro trabajo de cerrar el déficit fiscal del estado, los legisladores demócratas seguimos unidos detrás de un paquete de principios para proteger el empleo, mejorar el gobierno y terminar con nuestro déficit.

Nosotros reconocemos que la única manera de  verdaderamente estabilizar nuestra economía y situación del presupuesto es creando empleos. El plan del gobernador costará a California la perdida de más de 430,000 trabajos—y empujará nuestro porcentaje de desempleo a un 14.5 por ciento. Y eso en si mismo, hace que este plan sea inaceptable.

Nuestro plan del presupuesto financia completamente la educación desde el Kinder hasta el 12avo. grado como también la educación universitaria porque una fuerza laboral bien educada es esencial para nuestro crecimiento económico de largo plazo.

Nosotros protegemos la seguridad pública al rechazar la propuesta del gobernador de transferir casi $4 mil millones de dólares en costos a las ciudades y condados. Y es a partir de ahí que ciudades y los condados podrán evitar despedir a los bomberos y policías que resguardan nuestro bienestar.

Nosotros también rechazamos firmemente la idea de que los californianos pobres, enfermos y jubilados carguen con el peso de nuestro déficit fiscal.

Nosotros reconocemos la importancia de maximizar el crecimiento de empleos tanto en el sector privado como público, y cualquier acuerdo de presupuesto final debe incluir la inversión en la creación de empleos.

Nuestro plan evita aumentar los impuestos a las familias de California al terminar con el resquicio tributario a la extracción de petróleo y así terminar con el beneficio de la industria petrolera y demorar la implementación de nuevos beneficios tributarios a las corporaciones.

Hacer que la industria del petróleo pague su justa parte es la clave para evitar la eliminación de 430,000 empleos que propone el gobernador.

Los californianos necesitan estar muy claros en este punto: los legisladores demócratas han presentado la única propuesta responsable y realista para cerrar nuestro déficit y poner a los californianos de vuelta a trabajar.

Nosotros tenemos un enfoque balanceado y responsable que ayudará a la economía a volver a su sendero de prosperidad.

Les habló John A. Pérez, presidente de la Asamblea estatal. Gracias por su atención.

SACRAMENTO--Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez today announced the California Jobs Budget, a new proposal to solve California’s budget deficit while creating private sector jobs and preventing economically harmful cuts to schools, public safety and the state’s safety net. Joining Pérez was Assembly Budget Committee Chair Bob Blumenfield, who will preside over the public hearing and review process for the California Jobs Budget.

“California has to produce a budget that promotes job creation and makes economic sense,” Pérez said. “We shouldn’t make budget decisions that cut jobs and short change our overall recovery and long term growth. The California Jobs Budget will protect and create 465,000 jobs in the private sector and local communities while also protecting funding for schools, public safety, and a basic safety net.”

“The California Jobs Budget will be presented to the Legislature and the public for a full and transparent review,” Blumenfield said. “The Jobs Budget matches the priorities of the people of California, and it reflects the contributions of thousands of Californians who have testified and participated in over 50 Budget Subcommittee hearings, 12 full Budget Committee hearings, and seven Budget Forums held throughout the state.”

The California Jobs Budget closes the state’s $17.9 billion General Fund shortfall and ends the year with a $1 billion final reserve. The centerpiece of the California Jobs Budget is a $10.1 billion Jobs and Economic Stability Fund that will protect against the loss of 430,000 private sector, local community and school jobs in the Governor’s May Budget Revision, and which will also generate tens of thousands of new jobs.  The California Jobs Budget provides $1.5 billion for targeted Jobs Initiatives, repays debts to local governments and schools to avoid massive local government layoffs, and maintains critical employment services and training programs that get people back to work and keep them on payrolls and off government aid.

“This is a creative approach at solving the two most urgent problems facing our state: creating jobs and closing our deficit,” Pérez said. “The California Jobs Budget gets us through a difficult period and puts us much further ahead on the path to economic recovery by focusing on jobs.”

The Jobs Package:

• Puts job creation and protection first. With a $10 billion Jobs and Economic Stability Fund that promotes and protects 465,000 private sector jobs, school, and local government jobs
  • Invests in critical job training programs at California community colleges for job training and retraining programs for unemployed job seekers
  • Jump starts California's clean and green industries and other targeted jobs investments.

• Protects Critical Education Dollars.  Rejects $3 Billion of the Governor’s devastating cuts to education and instead meets the Proposition 98 guarantee and puts a stop to the endless cuts to K-12 and Higher Education in order to protect California's future.

• Rejects Phony Cuts to Safety Net. Rejects the Governor’s slashing of safety net programs, which would actually cost the state more, and instead maintains welfare to work, childcare, and cost effective alternatives to expensive nursing homes.

• Includes No New Broadbased Tax Increases. Makes no broadbased tax increases, and instead delays corporate loopholes and closes the California Oil Severance Tax loophole.

In order to maximize the immediate impact from creating and protecting jobs, the Jobs and Economic Stability Fund borrows $8.7 billion from the California Beverage Recycling Fund and, similar to the Governor’s plan, $500 million from the Disability Insurance Fund.

An Oil Severance Tax, required by law in every other oil producing state—including Texas and Alaska—will generate $900 million in 2010-11 and billions more each year for the Jobs and Economic Stability Fund. While the oil severance fee will generate job-creating revenue, numerous studies have found that oil companies in California are not highly taxed compared to other states.  Because the oil market is global in scope, it means there should be no impact from closing the severance loophole on the price of oil. The Oil Severance Tax in the California Jobs Budget is subject to approval by a majority vote of the Legislature.  Governor Schwarzenegger signed a similar majority vote tax mechanism into law in March.

The California Jobs Budget would also delay the implementation of corporate tax loopholes that were created in previous budget solutions, which would generate an additional $2.1 billion.

Funds from the Jobs and Economic Stability Fund will be allocated as follows:

• $1.1 Billion Targeted Jobs Investment to develop and strengthen California industries, including green and clean tech industries. This also provides a potential funding source for numerous Democratic and Republican jobs bills making their way in the Legislature.

• $900 million Repayment to Local Governments. Protects thousands of local police, fire, and other local jobs by repaying $900 million owed to local governments for past mandates.

• $3.8 Billion Repayment to Local School Districts. Protects tens of thousands of jobs for teachers, aides, and counselors by fully funding Proposition 98 and eliminating portions of the “Education Credit Card” rather than the Governor's proposal to cut schools by $2.8 billion, which leads to thousands of lost jobs.
  
  
• $900 million to Protect Higher Education's Role in Our Economic Future. Provides $1 billion to restore recent education cuts and fully fund the UC and CSU to prevent the devastating economic and jobs impact of decimating Higher Education. Also protects access to higher education by reducing the Governor’s student fee hike by 50 percent, which will save UC students $628 and CSU students $202.
  
  
• $1.9 Billion Keeping Working Poor Parents in Workforce. Maintains necessary childcare programs funded through CalWORKS and Prop 98 to ensure working parents can stay employed and over 50,000 small business childcare providers can stay in business.
  
  
• $1.4 Billion Getting Californians Back to Work. Invests in critical employment services to move people from welfare to work and to retrain workers at Community Colleges.
  
  
• $100 Million for Oil Producing Communities. Provides $100 million to local communities impacted by the new Oil Severance Fee.   Experts project the Oil Severance Fee will have little impact on jobs statewide, but there may be localized impacts.  Therefore, an ongoing $100 million allocation is included to offset any negative impacts of the fee.
  
  
• $200 million for the Bottle Bill. Separate from the Jobs and Economic Security Fund, the package increases funding by $200 million for the Beverage Container Recycling program to strengthen and stabilize the state's recycling program. California's recycling program was nearly bankrupt due to the downturn in the economy, and this increase in support will provide long term secure funding for the program, which will protect local conservation corps, protect bottle manufacturing jobs through processing fee relief and drive green technology investment through product development grants.

CONTACT: Shannon Murphy (916) 319-2408

Website of Speaker John A. Pérez: www.asmdc.org/speaker

Assembly Access Video.

Speaker John A. Pérez Unveils California Jobs Budget

New California Jobs Budget Will Spur Private Sector Jobs, Boost Education, Protect Teachers and Cops and Pay Down Debt

(Sacramento) - Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez has announced the California Jobs Budget, a new proposal to solve California’s budget deficit while creating private sector jobs and preventing economically harmful cuts to schools, public safety and the state’s safety net. Joining Pérez for the announcement was Assembly Budget Committee Chair Bob Blumenfield, who will preside over the public hearing and review process for the California Jobs Budget. “California has to produce a budget that promotes job creation and makes economic sense,” Pérez said. “We shouldn’t make budget decisions that cut jobs and short change our overall recovery and long term growth. The California Jobs Budget will protect and create 465,000 jobs in the private sector and local communities while also protecting funding for schools, public safety, and a basic safety net.” Here’s more in this Assembly Access video.

Below are links to audio from today’s news conference.
Speaker Pérez’s opening remarks at today’s news conference. (5:48)

Speaker Pérez says the Assembly Democrat’s budget proposal is focused on jobs,jobs,jobs.(:15)

Speaker Pérez says this budget proposal does not include any new general tax increases.(:15)

Speaker Pérez says this budget plan reflects the priorities voiced by Californians during the interactive budget forums held throughout the state over the past six weeks. (:28)

Speaker Pérez says this budget saves thousands of jobs that would be lost under the Governor’sbudget plan and allows for repayment of past obligations to education. (:39)

Speaker Pérez says all of the budget proposals will be reviewed in an open, public, transparent process. (:41)

Assembly Budget Committee Chair Bob Blumenfield’s opening remarks at today’s news conference.(4:01)

Here are photos from the press conference.

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SACRAMENTO – In this Democratic weekly address, Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) says the Assembly is looking closely at how measures included in the Governor’s May Revise budget proposal would impact jobs for Californians. The Speaker discusses how the Assembly’s budget solutions will be focused on creating and saving jobs and be developed in an open, transparent way that encourages public participation.

Website of Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez: www.asmdc.org/speaker

English The running time is 2:05.

Spanish The running time is 3:12.

CONTACT: Shannon Murphy (916) 319-2408

Presidente Pérez: Enfoque de la Asamblea Será el Impacto del Presupuesto en el Empleo

SACRAMENTO – En el mensaje demócrata semanal, el presidente de la Asamblea John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles), comenta que la Asamblea revisará cuidadosamente cómo las medidas incluidas en la Revisión de Mayo del presupuesto del gobernador impactará el tema del empleo para los californianos. El presidente además señala que las soluciones presupuestarias de la Asamblea estarán enfocadas en la creación y resguardo de empleos y será elaborado de una manera abierta y transparente para alentar la participación del público.

El discurso radial en archivo de MP3 puede ser localizado en el sitio de Internet:

Spanish

Portal del presidente de la Asamblea John A. Pérez: www.asmdc.org/speaker

CONTACTO: Shannon Murphy (916) 319-2408

SACRAMENTO – California Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) issued the following statement today regarding Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed May Revise to the state budget:

“With the release of the May Revise, the Legislature now knows the exact scope of the deficit we must close, and while I cannot say what the exact solution will be, I can say that the process in finding that solution will be open, honest and transparent.

The Assembly’s focus is on adopting a budget that promotes job creation and continues to fund the vital services California needs to ensure a strong and lasting economic recovery. The Assembly will not play politics with the budget—and we will specifically not engage in the politics of extraction. The Governor’s suggestions are clearly more reflective of a hyper-partisan political agenda than in finding real solutions to our problems. Putting Californians back to work is the fundamental priority for Californians, and we do not have the luxury of another bruising summer of ideological warfare.”

Website of Speaker John A. Pérez: www.asmdc.org/speaker

Contact: Shannon Murphy (916) 319-2408

In an effort to promote a more open and transparent public budget process, Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez hosted a series state budget forums that were held across the state beginning in late April and running through mid May (May 13th is the last scheduled event).

Legislators are seeking the public¹s input in the budgeting process in order to make tough choices on what to fund, what to cut and where to find needed revenues. To that end, all of the forums included a facilitated presentation and a question and answer period with Next 10, an independent, nonpartisan organization.

The public was invited to participate either by attending in person or watching through live web casts. Nearly 2,000 individuals have participated in the forums. The dates and locations of the events follow:

• April 23rd - Palm Springs
• April 24th - Fresno
• April 29th - Sacramento
• April 30th - Orange County
• May 7th - Los Angeles
• May 8th - San Diego

UPCOMING FORUM

May 13th - Albany

Participants have learned how the state budget is constructed and legislators have listened to what decisions ordinary Californians would have the legislature make regarding the Governor's budget proposals.

This is an unprecedented opportunity for the public to be engaged in the state budget process within our representative democratic framework.

VIDEO

Live, Interactive Budget Forums Open Up State Budget Process

(Sacramento) - Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) is delivering on his promise to have an open, transparent budget process. Speaker Pérez has launched a series of budget forums that are being held throughout the state and are being webcast live on the internet. While in Fresno for one of the budget forums Speaker Pérez said, “We know California is at a very critical moment when it comes to our budget and we feel very strongly that the best way to pass a budget that respects, and reflects, the values of all of us in California is to make sure that we engage in a transparent and inclusive budget process.” Here’s more in this Assembly Web Report.

Boosts Bill to Help Law Enforcement Protect CA Transportation Systems

SACRAMENTO – Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) today said public safety jobs should be viewed as a priority in crafting the state budget, reiterating his commitment to review the governor’s upcoming budget proposal in terms of its impact on jobs in our hard-hit state. Pérez made the comments at a Capitol news conference where he was joined by public safety leaders to call for passage of his legislation to protect Californians and tourists as they use public transportation systems.

“In spite of the enormous budget challenges facing our state, we need to ensure that public safety officials have adequate resources to perform their critical work,” Pérez said. “Recent budget debates have seen proposals that would reduce the number of law enforcement officers in California. I am deeply troubled by these proposals because reducing the number of police will result in communities that are less safe for people to live, work and start businesses and that will result in long term economic harm to our communities and our state.”

At the news conference Speaker Pérez pushed support for his AB 2324, noting the attempted car bombing in Times Square reminds us of the need to be vigilant and the recent Moscow bombings remind us that transit systems remain prime targets.

“AB 2324, which is sponsored by Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, creates ‘weapons free zones’ at public transit stations,” Pérez said. “The people of California deserve to know that when they walk into a transit station, they are safe and secure and that law enforcement has adequate tools and resources to maintain that security.”

AB 2324 would make it a crime to bring most weapons aboard public transit vehicles and into vulnerable areas of bus depots and train stations.  The bill will also make it a crime to knowingly avoid security screenings and strengthen penalties for repeat offenders engaging in certain dangerous crimes. AB 2324 is scheduled for a vote on the Assembly floor Thursday, May 13.

• Website of Speaker John A. Pérez: www.asmdc.org/speaker

CONTACT: Shannon Murphy (916) 319-2408

Speaker Pérez: Keeping Public Safety Jobs Key in State Budget

(Sacramento) - Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) says public safety jobs should be viewed as a priority in crafting the state budget, reiterating his commitment to review the governor’s upcoming budget proposal in terms of its impact on jobs in our hard-hit state. Pérez made the comments at a Capitol news conference where he was joined by public safety leaders to call for passage of his legislation to protect Californians and tourists as they use public transportation systems. “In spite of the enormous budget challenges facing our state, we need to ensure that public safety officials have adequate resources to perform their critical work,” Pérez said. Here’s more in this Assembly Access video.

Below are links to audio from today’s news conference.

Speaker Pérez’s opening remarks at today’s news conference. (1:56)

Speaker Pérez says the ongoing budget hearings and forums are keeping Democrats closely connected to real Californians. (:33)

Speaker Pérez says explains how he will view any proposed cuts to public safety programs. (:24)

Speaker Pérez says he does not want to make cuts in state programs that will hurt local government. (:19)

PRESS CONFERENCE PHOTOS

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Assembly Effort to Focus on Jobs Impact of Governor’s Proposed Budget

SACRAMENTO – Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) reiterated today that the state budget will be developed on-time through a public process, not in closed-door meetings of the Big 5.

“We will develop the budget through a public process that includes full subcommittee and committee review,” the Speaker said.  Assembly budget hearings will be webcasted live, along with other types of committee hearings, as part of the Speaker’s efforts to increase transparency and promote public participation.  The Speaker said the hearings will focus closely on the impact the Governor’s budget has on jobs in California.  Speaker Pérez made his remarks at a Sacramento news conference where he reported on six public budget forums recently held throughout the state.

“Nearly 2000 people attended our budget forums,” the Speaker noted, adding, “The public recognizes the difficulty that exists in getting a two thirds majority and they are very frustrated with the choices before them.”  The Speaker hosted the budget forum held in Fresno.  Other forums were held in Orange County, Palm Springs, Reseda, Sacramento and San Diego.

The budget forums were also webcasted live and were led by Next 10, a non-partisan organization. Click onto the link below to learn more about the budget forums.

• Webpage for Assembly Budget Forums: http://www.asmdc.org/issues/budget/
• Website of Speaker John A. Pérez: http://www.asmdc.org/speaker/
• Website of Budget Chair Bob Blumenfield: http://www.asmdc.org/blumenfield

CONTACT: Shannon Murphy (916) 319-2408

Speaker Pérez Says Budget Will Be Developed Through Public Process

(Sacramento) – During a capitol news conference Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) reiterated that the state budget will be developed on-time through a public process, not in closed-door meetings of the Big 5. “We will develop the budget through a public process that includes full subcommittee and committee review,” the Speaker said. Assembly budget hearings will be webcast live, along with other types of committee hearings, as part of the Speaker’s efforts to increase transparency and promote public participation. The Speaker was joined at the news conference by Assembly Budget Committee Chair Bob Blumenfield (D-San Fernando Valley). They said the budget hearings will focus closely on the impact the Governor’s budget has on jobs in California.

Below are links to audio from today’s news conference:

Speaker Pérez’s opening remarks at today’s news conference. (3:19)

Speaker Pérez says the legislature will be looking to see what the Governor’s revised budget’s impact is on the job market. (:20)

Speaker Pérez says the inclusive, open budget process that’s being used this year will allow Republicans to participate fully. (:21)

Speaker Pérez says he does not want to negotiate a budget behind closed doors in Big 5 meetings. (:38)

Assembly Budget Committee Chair Bob Blumenfield’s opening remarks at today’s news conference. (2:22)

PRESS CONFERENCE PHOTOS

State Leaders Meet with Federal Partners on Health Reform Implementation, Funding Issues

WASHINGTON, DC – Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) and Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) today announced they have made significant progress in Washington D.C. this week on two key areas: promoting federal funding and policy changes to bolster California’s economy and help create jobs and ensuring health care reform is implemented in a way that maximizes benefits to California working families and small businesses.

“We’re back in Washington because we are working to create jobs, fix the budget and recover the economy,” Pérez said. “By partnering with the federal government, we have made progress on some key federal issues that will help the state budget. We’re also here to ensure that the largest state in the nation implements health care reform in a way that not only lowers costs for working families and small businesses, but also protects consumers from being denied coverage for pre-existing conditions.”

“The importance of this trip is enhanced by last week's bad revenue numbers,” Steinberg said. “The Obama Administration and congressional leaders understand the challenges we face. Our meetings have been productive and it is clear our partnership is stronger than ever and we will continue to work together to maintain vital services, expand health care, reduce our unemployment rate, and speed our economic recovery.”

Among those Steinberg and Pérez met with are: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, Director of the Center for Medicaid and State Operations Cindy Mann, White House Office for Health Reform Director Nancy-Ann Min DeParle and White House Intergovernmental Affairs Director Cecilia Muñoz.

• Click here to view the attached document for a list of federal issues covered in meetings.

Website of President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg: http://dist06.casen.govoffice.com

Website of Speaker John A. Pérez: www.asmdc.org/speaker

CONTACT: Shannon Murphy (Pérez) (916) 319-2408
Alicia Trost (Steinberg) (916) 651-4188