After 3 hours of floor debate…
After three hours of floor debate, the Senate and Assembly took up two versions of the budget: One consisting of the Republicans’ plan (essentially the Governor’s plan with a few small tweaks), and the Budget Committee plan (the Democratic leadership plan, but without the revenue increases as were originally presented). Ultimately, the Democratic plan was rejected by 5 votes in the Assembly and 6 votes in the Senate.
On the Assembly side:
- The Senate Republican bill finished with 25 “Aye” votes and 49 “No” votes. There were 4 abstentions, with Republicans Adams (Hesperia) and Tran (Costa Mesa) refraining from voting for their parties’ budget plan, while Democrats Arambula (Fresno) and Solorio (Santa Ana) declined to reject the proposal. There are 2 vacancies.
- The Senate Budget Committee (Majority Leadership budget) bill finished with 49 “Aye” votes, 25 “No” votes, and 4 abstentions. Democrats Huber (Lodi) and Solorio (Santa Ana) did not vote on the bill, while Republicans Norby (Brea) and Tran (Costa Mesa) abstained as well. There are 2 vacancies in the Assembly.
On the Senate side:
- The Assembly Republican bill finished with 12 “Aye” votes and 24 “No” votes. Republicans Blakeslee (San Luis Obispo) and Walters (Laguna Niguel) voted “No”, while Correa (Santa Ana) was the sole present Democrat to abstain. There were 3 excused absences or vacancies.
- The Assembly Budget Committee (Majority Leadership budget) bill finished with 21 “Aye” votes, 14 “No” votes, 2 abstentions from Democrats Correa (Santa Ana) and Yee (San Francisco), and 3 absences or vacancies.
Senator Ashburn (R-Bakersfield) spoke against the Democratic budget plan and said he would not vote again for tax increases. Assemblyman Gilmore (R-Hanford) also spoke against the plan, though he has told visitors to his office that he supports health and human services. Some of the Democrats who abstained from voting on their caucus’ plan are in swing districts and facing strong challenges in the November elections, and are wary of voting for anything their opponents can use against them.
We surely have our work cut out for us but, when we hear legislative leaders warn repeatedly during debate that we must not pass a harmful budget in haste, we know that our work has made a difference and it strengthens our determination to win a responsible budget with the revenues we need to protect this golden state we love.
Leading advocates from the HHS Network issued a series of statements responding to Tuesday’s vote. You can read them here.
HHS Advocates Decry Legislators Responsible for Holding State Budget “Hostage”
Advocates and experts from the Health and Human Services Network of California issued the following statements on Tuesday in response to the California State Legislature’s first vote on a State Budget proposal before the close of the legislative session.
All advocates below are available today for comment at the phone numbers listed below.
“The fact that some legislators resolutely oppose any budget solution with revenues for California families just goes to show how truly out of touch they are. We are on the brink of a serious financial crisis in California – hundreds of thousands of jobs are at stake, and important services, such as child-care, are already closing their doors.
Child care is a lifeline for working families. In addition, we are an industry, providing jobs and fueling the economy. When child-care is no longer available to working families as a result of a budget impasse, parents must take time off from work to watch their children; it means child-care centers must lay off staff; and it further exacerbates the problems that California families are struggling so desperately to overcome.
But we can’t accept just any budget. If a late budget is contains cuts and not enough revenues, the result will be irresponsible long-term policy. This is neither sustainable nor acceptable given the severity of the crisis facing the millions of struggling California families.
Beatriz Leyva-Cutler, BAHIA Inc, 510-847-0784
“It is extremely disappointing but not shocking that minority party members failed to provide votes for a reasonable compromise budget. Their knee jerk obstructionism means that struggling families and businesses in California will continue to be held hostage to their rigid ideology. While it is unfortunate that child care and shelters are not being paid, caving into the demands of the Republicans would mean some of those programs would go away for good. That is far worse than no budget. The Democrat’s budget preserves jobs, preserves the safety net when we need it most and asks all in California to contribute to the solution.
Michael Herald, Western Center on Law & Poverty, (916) 844-6263
“The economic recession which has gripped California for the last few years has had devastating impacts on our families – many of whom are struggling on a daily basis just to survive. And while important programs are being constantly threatened with closure as a result of the delayed budget, a much more terrifying prospect lies in the passing of the Governor’s proposed multi-billion dollar budget cuts. These services are not only the last lifeline for millions of families, but they are a vital element in maintaining and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs throughout the State.
Legislators who fail to understand this also fail to understand the very dramatic circumstances facing millions of their constituents. We need a timely budget on-time, but we need one that is realistic enough to address the most important outstanding issues facing the economy, our families, and our State in general.”
Leticia Alejandrez, California Family Resource Association, (916) 285-1800
WATCH LIVE – Senate & Assembly Floor Sessions
Watch the live webcast of the State Senate & State Assembly Floor Sessions at The California Channel:
You’re Taking the Shirts Off Our Backs Rally in Riverside
Great turnout at today’s budget protest outside the Governor’s office on Main Street in Riverside! Spearheaded by Julie Williams of Rolling Start, and attended by dozens of residents and community leaders from around the Inland Empire, the protest called on Governor Schwarzenegger and Riverside Senators Dutton (R-Inland Empire) & Hollingsworth (R-Murrieta) to support targeted revenue solutions to prevent life-threatening cuts to health care and human services. Revenue solutions championed by the coalition include the oil severance tax and rollback of corporate tax breaks, both of which are part of the Perez-Steinberg budget proposal but have been criticized as irresponsible job killers by Dutton and Hollingsworth.
Health Access’ Southern California Regional Organizer, Nancy Gomez, reports from the scene: “We just had a passing car throw a glass bottle at a person in a wheelchair. We have a luxury spa complaining that we are “ruining the experience” for their clients who are “seekers of refinery, luxury and beauty,” according to their tagline.”
If you live in the Inland Empire, call, write & drop by the offices of Riverside Senators Dutton & Hollingsworth to ask them which is more irresponsible and job-killing: slashing health & human services or slightly reducing corporate profits?
Women Vote! Lobby Day in the Capitol
To honor 90 years of women’s right to vote, health and human services advocates returned to the Capitol Aug 25. Determined to keep up the pressure until a Family Recovery Budget is signed, the group reminded legislators that the final vote for women’s suffrage was cast by a reluctant Tennessee Republican who was urged on by his mother.
About 25 advocates visited twelve legislators who have expressed reluctance to vote for a budget that includes new revenues. They were led by ACCE, the California Commission on the Status of Women, California Immigrant Policy Center, National Association of Social Workers and the Southeast Asian Resource Action Center.
Members of California Hunger Action Coalition, DOGFITE, Community Resources for Independent Living, Parent Voices, California Partnership, California NOW and others at Capitol Wednesday Aug 25
“You OWE Us”
Advocates of the safety-net gathered on the steps of the State Capitol on Tuesday to remind the Governor and members of the Legislature of their obligation to come to a quick and fair resolution of this 
budget impasse, and pass a budget that doesn’t rely on damaging cuts. This message must be heard because as of August 26th community clinics and health centers across the state will begin receiving IOUs in place of Medi-Cal payments. Many clinics depend on Medi-Cal for up to 50-80 percent of their revenue. These payment delays leave safety-net providers scrambling to continue services and can also result in long term consequences, such as full clinic closures. The Legislature and the Governor owe us and our 4 million plus patients state-wide a fair resolution to the budget impasse because it is only this action that will ensure that our community clinics and health centers can keep their doors open, staff employed & patients protected.
President/CEO Carmela Castellano-Garcia delivered the following message to the gathered crowd:
I stand here today to say enough with the IOUs… our leaders owe us more. Let today mark the beginning of our U O Us campaign… You- elected officials, Owe Us- the people of California, the following:
• More than an all cuts budget – revenues must be included – it is unfair to have the same groups of Californian’s paying for the state’s economic problems.
• A responsible, balanced budget now – We support and encourage the Legislature to make thoughtful, fair decisions – but weeks and weeks of payment delays cause problems of their own.
• The ability to keep our doors open, staff employed & patients treated – We are counting on the Legislature to agree on a timely budget that doesn’t rely on damaging cuts, that allows for clinic doors to stay open, jobs for families maintained, and for Californians to be able to continue receiving the care they need.
• You- owe – us: $43 million in delayed payments due to the budget impasse so far.
Rainbow for Revenues
46 people from HHS Network member organizations across California — from LA to Bakersfield to Fresno to Stockton to the Bay Area – are in Sacramento now for our “Rainbow for Revenues” Capitol Action Day. They’re about to head over to the Capitol for a series of lobby visits to talk about the impact of ongoing cuts to health care and human services in communities of color and to the LGBT community.
Check out the photos below:
