Huff Headlines: August 26, 2010

Budget Update

The latest budget proposal by legislative Democrats includes reducing sales taxes while juggling the income tax rates - raising all but the top and bottom tax brackets by a full one percent. The non-partisan Legislative Analysts' Office reported the scheme will hurt middle class families.

According to a Sacramento Bee article, Jason Sisney, State Finance Director for the LAO, told a Senate committee the proposal would generally result in higher taxes for taxpayers earning between $20,000 and $200,000 a year, based on preliminary analysis.

The Sacramento Bee report stated it did not say how large the average hikes would be, but that the plan would raise taxes overall for state residents by $1.2 billion in 2011-12. (Read more here)

So while some members of the Legislature choose to raise taxes over realistic and prudent budget solutions, the neediest of our society live in fear wondering if vital services will be cut. Furthermore, critical transportation jobs are in danger of being stalled - $2.1 billion worth of projects, according to CalTrans - which affects our already feeble job market and economy.

It's time to come to the immutable truth that California doesn't have the money it once had and that we need to reset our spending to reflect our current situation.

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In the District

During our short summer break I hosted several meetings and attended a number of district events.

The Brea Rotary Club graciously invited me to speak at their meeting, and we discussed the state budget and other state issues. It is great to see service clubs taking initiative to better the community. The Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce held a meeting on education in which I was invited to participate on the panel. I shared my thoughts on education, including workforce development, choice, and teacher seniority. On the subject of education, a coalition of local community colleges met with me in my office to share their concerns about student fee increases and the possible uses of that money.

Susan Melanson, a resident of our district, was recently appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger to the Board of Parole Hearings. Susan gave me the great honor of swearing her in. Congratulations Susan!

The San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership held their 7th Annual Awards Gala at the Rose Bowl, where I was able to present a resolution on behalf of the legislators from the San Gabriel Valley congratulating them on the 20th anniversary of their formation. Originally organized as the San Gabriel Valley Commerce and Cities Consortium, the Economic Partnership is a leading voice for business in our region.

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Summer Safety for Our Children

As families enjoy our beautiful weather and more time outdoors, there are a few important safety items to be reminded of:

Water Safety - Drowning is the leading cause of death among young children in Orange County.  Additionally, it is estimated that for each drowning death, there are 1 to 4 near drowning incidents serious enough to result in hospitalization.   Never leave a child unattended near water!

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers the following suggestions for pool safety: adult supervision at all times, place barriers or alarms on doors leading to pool areas, teach children to swim at an early age and use safety floatation devices, parents should be trained in basic water rescue skills, first aid and CPR and have phones poolside in case of an emergency.

Sun Safety - Children will likely be spending more time outdoors.  Teach young children to apply sunscreen before leaving the home or playing outside. Sun prevention in childhood is very important in preventing skin cancer later in life.

Bike Safety - Be mindful of children playing on bikes and scooters in the neighborhood.  If your child is riding a bike or scooter, be sure they are wearing a helmet and that the helmet fits properly.

These easy reminders will help your family enjoy a great Southern California Summer!

Provided by the Children and Families Commission of Orange County. http://www.occhildrenandfamilies.com/.

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San Dimas Celebrates 50 Years as a City

San Dimas incorporated in 1960 and celebrated their 50th Anniversary with a family festival on August 7. I was happy to be able to participate and present an legislative resolution to Mayor Morris commemorating 50 years. The celebration was a wonderful San Dimas style event with lots of food, fun, and entertainment for San Dimas residents.

In the late 1950s, as nearby cities moved to annex unincorporated portions of Los Angeles County that surrounded what is now present-day San Dimas, a group of San Dimas residents known as the Founders Committee, led an effort to incorporate San Dimas. In 1960, residents voted in favor of incorporation and also voted for the first City Council. The members of that first council were Stanley Plummer, Mayor; Ted Glauthier, Mayor Pro Tem; G. Francis Harbin, Lloyd Rouse and Harry Whipple comprised the remainder of the City Council.

Since its incorporation on June 28, 1960, San Dimas has grown from a town of 7,500 to a suburban city of over 34,900 residents. San Dimas is known for its great sense of community togetherness and involvement. From the shores of Bonelli Park, to the historic downtown, to the rolling foothills, San Dimas has remained an incredible city and a great place to live.

Happy Anniversary San Dimas!

With San Dimas Mayor Curt Morris and Assemblyman Curt Hagman

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Program for Emerging Political Leaders

I was nominated by Senate Leadership to earn a scholarship to attend the Program for Emerging Political Leaders at the Darden School of Business, University of Virginia. Darden’s teaching method is a blend of classroom case analysis with individual preparation and team discussion. Fifty legislators from around the nation attended this conference from July 12-15 to discuss and learn about ethics, education, business, the environment and critical thinking. This was a valuable opportunity to consider issues of the day outside the highly partisan process of Sacramento.

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Education Spending: Testing Shows That More Is Not Always Better

Californians are constantly reminded by reports in the media that our state does not spend enough on K-12 public education. However, a newly released study by the US Census Bureau shows otherwise. According to the report, "Public Education Finances: 2008," California ranked about average in per-pupil K-12 spending. And spending has continued to rise sharply over the last two decades, so the real question becomes whether or not all this money is actually helping student achievement.

The NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) tests fourth and eighth-graders on core-subject matter during specified years. On almost every achievement-level test, California ranks lower than the national average.

Summary of Results (2009):

Mathematics (Average Scale Scores):

Reading (Average Scale Scores):

Source: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/states/

These achievement indicators confirm that spending does not correlate with student performance. For twenty years, state spending has increased but statewide student achievement has remained relatively flat.

Obviously it is important to fund our schools, but just as important is spending those tax dollars effectively. For example, the state attaches strings to much of the funding that goes out to schools thereby constricting how it can be spent. But California is very diverse and not every school has the exact same needs.

If we gave school districts more flexibility in how they spend their dollars, schools would spend more money on specific needs of the students in their schools and the state would then get a bigger return for its investment in education.

Thus, when Californians hear complaints that California schools need more tax dollars, we should first ask how effectively existing money is being spent before opening our collective wallets.

Note: The US Census Bureau report can be found at http://www.census.gov/govs/school/.

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