Tom Torlakson

Tom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson issued the following statement today on Governor Brown’s proposed budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year:

“The Governor has offered us a difficult but clear plan to address the challenges we face. Even as it seeks to protect our schools from new across-the-board cuts, the budget lays out the stark choices that come with difficult times.

“The proposed reductions to child care, to social services, and to schools serving the blind and deaf would cause real harm to children and families who need and deserve our help.

“Because everyone has a stake in our public schools, we all have a responsibility to be sure they have the resources to provide every child with a world-class education.

“The budget also makes it clear that meeting that obligation will require additional tax revenues—both to prevent new cuts and to finally turn the tide after years of devastating reductions to school budgets statewide.”

Sen. Sharon Runner

State Sen. Sharon Runner

State Senator Sharon Runner, R-Lancaster, issued the following statement on the Governor’s Budget:

“California is an innovative state whose entrepreneurs create jobs when the government stops getting in the way. Sadly, while many successful companies start here, too many are forced to leave due to high taxes and overregulation. These employers need to have the confidence that their company will have a fair chance of succeeding if they spend the money to hire people off the unemployment rolls.

“Increasing taxes does nothing to enourage the creativity and enterprise of employers.

“Elected officials must foster a business friendly climate to create jobs, not one that drains businesses of their hard-earned revenues.”

Michael D. Antonovich

Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich

In response to Governor Brown’s proposed ballot initiatives to increase taxes to fund his realignment law that sends state felons to county jails, Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich said, “By asking voters to consider tax increases even as the state’s economy remains stalled by slow growth and high unemployment, Governor Brown is saddling a dead horse to ride California into prosperity.”

“Threatening Draconian cuts in public safety and education is the typical scare tactic used by politicians who fail to restrain the state bureaucracy through consolidation and reform,” he added.