Yee Fights Cuts to Education
California Political Desk
February 26, 2010
SAN FRANCISCO – Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) joined California educators in calling on Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-Los Angeles) to protect school funding. Yee, who has consistently voted against all budget cuts to education, said Democrats should be as vigilant against cuts to education as Republicans have been against raising taxes.
This week, Yee again voted against a potential cut to California schools when he was one of only two Senators to vote "no" on AB 8x 5, which included up to $2.5 billion in deferrals to education. Yee is also insisting that the proposed "gas tax swap" provide a guarantee to Proposition 98 – voter-approved minimum funding for education. Over the past two years, Yee has voted against budget cuts to education that have left public schools $17 billion short.
"The state budget should not be balanced on the backs of kids and the most-vulnerable," said Yee. "I will continue to oppose all budgets that put the interests of corporations and the rich before the interests of children and families. If the Governor and his Republican colleagues are going to say taxes are off the table, then Democrats should say cuts to education are off the table. We need to stand by our principles and protect students and teachers."
"We are so proud of Senator Yee for standing up and saying no to more cuts," said Marty Hittelman, President of the California Federation of Teachers. "After all of the carnage inflicted by the governor and the legislature on education, it is a ray of sunshine to have a Senator like Senator Yee stand up for the people of California and say ´enough is enough.´ We, and the students we serve, applaud him."
The Governor´s proposed budget for 2010-11 would result in another $2.5 billion cut to schools, equating to $2,500 per year less for every California student. In addition, the Governor wants to renege on the July budget agreement that committed to restore more than $11.2 billion to education.
On February 25, Yee will join a coalition of parents and city organizations for a town hall meeting on public education. The forum will take place from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Marina Middle School, 3500 Fillmore Street (at Chestnut Street), San Francisco, CA.
"Not only do we need to stop any further cuts to education, but we need to find ways to increase funding or else our state is certain to face dire long-term consequences," said Yee. "For every dollar we invest in a student´s education, the state´s economy receives $3 net return on the investment. The best way to improve our economy is to ensure we have a well-educated workforce."
California´s schools rank at the very bottom of all 50 states in staff-to-student ratios and nearly last in the nation in per-pupil spending. In addition, libraries, arts, music, sports, advanced placement and other essential programs have been virtually eliminated.
While California´s public schools make up 40 percent of the state budget, they have been subject to 60 percent of the cuts. As a result, schools have lost more than 20,000 teachers and administrators and more than 10,000 critical school site support staff.
This week, Yee again voted against a potential cut to California schools when he was one of only two Senators to vote "no" on AB 8x 5, which included up to $2.5 billion in deferrals to education. Yee is also insisting that the proposed "gas tax swap" provide a guarantee to Proposition 98 – voter-approved minimum funding for education. Over the past two years, Yee has voted against budget cuts to education that have left public schools $17 billion short.
"The state budget should not be balanced on the backs of kids and the most-vulnerable," said Yee. "I will continue to oppose all budgets that put the interests of corporations and the rich before the interests of children and families. If the Governor and his Republican colleagues are going to say taxes are off the table, then Democrats should say cuts to education are off the table. We need to stand by our principles and protect students and teachers."
"We are so proud of Senator Yee for standing up and saying no to more cuts," said Marty Hittelman, President of the California Federation of Teachers. "After all of the carnage inflicted by the governor and the legislature on education, it is a ray of sunshine to have a Senator like Senator Yee stand up for the people of California and say ´enough is enough.´ We, and the students we serve, applaud him."
The Governor´s proposed budget for 2010-11 would result in another $2.5 billion cut to schools, equating to $2,500 per year less for every California student. In addition, the Governor wants to renege on the July budget agreement that committed to restore more than $11.2 billion to education.
On February 25, Yee will join a coalition of parents and city organizations for a town hall meeting on public education. The forum will take place from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Marina Middle School, 3500 Fillmore Street (at Chestnut Street), San Francisco, CA.
"Not only do we need to stop any further cuts to education, but we need to find ways to increase funding or else our state is certain to face dire long-term consequences," said Yee. "For every dollar we invest in a student´s education, the state´s economy receives $3 net return on the investment. The best way to improve our economy is to ensure we have a well-educated workforce."
California´s schools rank at the very bottom of all 50 states in staff-to-student ratios and nearly last in the nation in per-pupil spending. In addition, libraries, arts, music, sports, advanced placement and other essential programs have been virtually eliminated.
While California´s public schools make up 40 percent of the state budget, they have been subject to 60 percent of the cuts. As a result, schools have lost more than 20,000 teachers and administrators and more than 10,000 critical school site support staff.
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