CFA HEADLINES

May 14, 2010 - SPECIAL EDITION FROM CFA

GOVERNOR KEEPS $305 MILLION RESTORATION OF CSU FUNDING IN MAY REVISE

Today Gov. Schwarzenegger made public his revised plan for the 2010/11 state budget. This revision would retain the governor’s January plan to restore $305 million in state funding to the CSU.

The budget also provides $60.6 million for 2.5 percent enrollment growth. This funding is contingent upon the state receiving a threshold amount in federal aid for other state programs.

In addition, the governor's May budget revision proposal includes the restoration of new competitive CalGrant awards.

The governor had indicated previously that he will not sign a budget that does not include some restoration of the funding that was cut in prior years to the state’s public higher education system.

See the governor’s proposed budget docs at: http://www.ebudget.ca.gov

See his revised budget plan for the CSU at:

http://www.ebudget.ca.gov/pdf/GovernorsBudget/6000/6610.pdf

Upon hearing about the most recent twist in the state budget saga, CFA reacted with optimism:

“CSU faculty and students appreciate that the governor heard our message that California’s system of public higher education is a vital resource and that we must reinvest in it,” said CFA President Lillian Taiz, a professor of history at CSU Los Angeles.

“Our organization is ready to work with the Schwarzenegger administration to ensure that California's public higher education system continues to be the engine of the state's economic growth.

“Hundreds of thousands of students rely on the CSU for educational, professional and economic advancement. Deep budget cuts to public higher education in past years have put the state’s progress in jeopardy.

“A re-investment in public higher education during these enormously difficult economic conditions is a signal to California that ‘The CSU is the Solution’ is not merely a slogan but a path out of economic difficulties.

“We are hopeful that the members of the Legislature will support this step in the right direction by reinvesting in public higher education.”

THE REST OF THE BUDGET

While the proposed funding for the CSU is greatly improved compared to recent years, there is a great deal of pain for Californians in the Governor’s plan. His non-CSU proposals include:

- Massive cuts to health and human services, including cuts in Medi-Cal services, wages for In-Home Supportive Services workers and new restrictions on eligibility for CalWorks, the state welfare program

- Changes to the pension plans of newly hired state workers

- Billions in cuts to prison healthcare funding

CFA President Taiz said of these planned cuts, “Many of our state’s children, poor, elderly, and disabled will suffer from his plan to cut health and other social services. Healthy children learn better. Health, the public safety net and education are intertwined and cutting any of them is an injury to our shared future.”

BUDGET BATTLE HAS JUST BEGUN

Now that the Governor’s budget revision has been unveiled, the focus of CFA’s advocacy efforts on behalf of the CSU will shift to members of the state legislature.

Much can happen in the state budget process between now and the day when the legislature and the Governor adopt the final budget.

State lawmakers will devote the coming months to budget hearings. At some point the state Assembly and Senate each will vote on budget bills. Then “conference committees” will attempt to reconcile the two houses’ and governor’s budget plans.

“Now the supporters of the CSU must ramp up our efforts to make sure this vital funding for the CSU remains in the budget that is ultimately adopted. We must take our message to the state Legislature,” said CFA President Taiz.

“Faculty, staff, students and other supporters of public higher education must continue our advocacy throughout the summer for the sake of our students and California’s future.”

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