- Judith Gutierrez
- (916) 319-2052
SACRAMENTO - Today, Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled his $291.5 billion budget proposal, while looking to address a $37.9 billion shortfall identified by his administration. His proposed budget maintains funding commitments made recently towards addressing our homelessness crisis, investing in mental health reforms, keeping our state safe, transforming our education system, sustaining our climate commitments, and sustaining our economy. However, it also pulls from our reserves, while calling for immediate actions to defer investments in other spaces to offset our deficit.
Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo (D- Los Angeles) issued the following statement in response to the Governor’s proposed budget:
"The Legislature has proactively and wisely prepared for a budget deficit by making smart, strategic, and economically sound investments and savings in prior years, which have put us in a good position to address the double-digit budget deficit facing our state today.
While the projections regarding the scale of our financial shortfall differ between the Governor and the Legislative Analyst’s Office by about $30 billion, our Legislative body will continue in its commitment to responsibly manage our state’s finances. Despite facing a budget shortfall, California persists in enhancing access to avenues for innovation and growth, thereby upholding its commitments and sensibly overseeing future financial management.
I applaud the Governor for his commitment to maintaining funding to address our ongoing homelessness crisis through partnerships with our local governments while investing in the mental health of our communities and their public safety, all of which are priorities for my District.
While I recognize that averting a fiscal cliff and achieving a well-balanced budget may involve making tough decisions like scaling back on prior investments, deferring funding to implement recent legislation, and tightening our belt, I am eager to work closely with my colleagues and the Administration to avoid significant reductions, shifts, and delays that could affect workers or climate reduction efforts.
As I continue to advocate for my District, which has a large immigrant community, I will also be paying close attention to how changes to the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Services program affect real people. This is especially important at a time when we are seeing an increasing number of immigrants arriving from other countries, some of whom arrive in other states and then transported to California, and how these changes might impact our local communities.
This is not a time to instill fear but rather lead with transparency. I look forward to deliberating with my colleagues, negotiating with the Governor, and hearing from Californians on where our priorities should be as a state.”
About Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo
Assemblywoman Carrillo was elected to serve in the State Assembly in December 2017. She represents the 52nd Assembly District, which includes East Los Angeles, the City of Los Angeles, and South Glendale. She serves on the Assembly Committees on Appropriations, Emergency Management, Health, Labor and Employment, and the Joint Committee on Climate Change Policies. She also serves as the Chair of the Select Committee on Latina Inequities, Vice Chair of the Legislative Progressive Caucus, Commissioner for the California Film Commission, Commissioner for the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, and Member of the California Cultural and Historical Endowment Board.