• Gov. Jerry Brown released a revised budget proposal for fiscal year 2014-2015 on May 13, which includes more funding for health-care coverage under Medi-Cal, emergency drought assistance, and additional contributions to the California Public Employees’ Retirement System. The revision also sets aside $1.6 billion to make the final payment on Economic Recovery Bonds to help pay down California’s debts and liabilities. State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) said more proposed funding for Medi-Cal is a positive step in the right direction, in a press release from her office. “The good news is that California’s finances continue on a stable, steady, and positive course. It’s easy to forget how far we’ve come from three years ago, when the state faced a $26.6 billion deficit,” she said. “The governor’s proposal remains just that, a proposal.” Jackson added that she would like to see investment in early childhood education and childcare resources for working families. The revised proposal includes a plan to reduce some of California’s debt by more than $11 billion this year and fully eliminate it by 2017-2018.
• For the first time since the 1977 drought, California water officials are considering widespread cutbacks of historical water rights because of low supplies, according to the Sacramento Bee. The Bee reports that over the next few weeks, the state is expected to start issuing orders to water agencies, farmers, and other property owners to stop diverting water from streams and rivers. On May 20, the State Water Resources Control Board voted on emergency regulations to reduce diversions on three Sacramento River tributaries. The Bee said that discussion continued to May 21, when a public workshop was held regarding proposed emergency regulations for cutbacks on the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta Watershed.
• In a press conference held on May 20, the Democratic members of the California Legislative Women’s Caucus underscored their desire for a budget that prioritizes the needs of working women and parents as well as the education of young children. The caucus also sent letters to leaders of both houses of the Legislature as well as to Gov. Jerry Brown outlining its budget requests. Priorities include: Funding for approximately 40,000 more children in state-supported early care and education—at a cost of approximately $300 million; investing $25 million in quality improvement, parent support, and care provider education and training for early care and education of infants to 5-year-olds; modernizing reimbursement rates to care-providers, which have been frozen since 2007; and expanding access to preschools. Caucus chair State Sen. Bonnie Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) said in a press release that the caucus wants to ensure that women and children aren’t left behind as the economy recovers. “Funding 40,000 additional slots of affordable care will mean more women can afford to go back to work or keep working, and this will benefit families, employers, and our economy,” Lowenthal said.
This article appears in May 22-29, 2014.