A Look at One Form-E-Mail Regarding the Budget

Thank you for contacting my office with your concerns about the Governor’s May Revision and subsequent budget cut proposals, especially those of the (INSERT CONSTITUENT CONCERN HERE).

It is important to point out that over the past year, we have reduced California’s structural budget deficit from $19 billion to about $8 billion. The unfortunate result has been even more reductions in the core services Californians need and deserve.

We are not looking for a public fight over the next month. Still, we must endeavor to balance necessary cuts with maintaining and preserving essential public services, especially for those most in need.

The governor has laid out a challenging proposal, but we will work assertively with him and with the Assembly to find alternatives to the most egregious and harmful cuts. We will deliver a credible, transparent, and balanced budget by June 15. (Emphasis added)

Our eye must be on the November election, for as difficult as this gap is, passage of the governor’s temporary revenue proposal is critical to end the deficit and to maintain and preserve the public investment necessary for the economy to grow and for people to thrive.

You may wish to read more about the budget at the following websites:

• Department of Finance: www.dof.ca.gov
• Legislative Analyst’s Office: www.lao.ca.gov
• California Budget Project: www.cbp.org
• My website, where you can see my statements about the budget: www.sen.ca.gov/steinberg

If you need assistance or have concerns about another state matter, please do not hesitate to call my office at (916) 651-1529, or email me at senator.steinberg@sen.ca.gov.
 
Sincerely, 
 
DARRELL STEINBERG
President pro Tempore
6^th Senate District

(A Republican lawmaker’s response might be a little different, particularly the part about endorsing the governor’s tax increase proposal.)

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