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News From the Capitol
TO: CLA MEMBERS/ SYSTEMS/ NETWORK CONTACTS
FROM: Mike Dillon, CLA Lobbyist; Christina Dillon, CLA Lobbyist
RE: News From The Capitol
CAMPAIGN TO RESTORE THE CUTS TO PLF AND TBR BEGIN
In light of Governor Schwarzenegger's recent action in the 2007-08 Budget to slash funding for the Public Library Foundation (PLF) and Transaction Based Reimbursement (TBR) programs, the California Library Association will be launching a campaign to protest the $14 million in combined cuts. CLA will be requesting that the funding be restored in the Governor's January Budget.
For the last few weeks, we have been working with Assemblyman Mike Eng's office to coordinate a response to the Governor's library cuts. Assemblyman Eng is a former library trustee, a co-author of Senator Simitian's library bond measure, and a library supporter. In conjunction with Mr. Eng's staff, we have prepared a letter that Assemblyman Eng will be circulating among his colleagues, in the hopes of adding their signatures to the letter. This letter will then be delivered to the Governor, and among other things states:
"As Governor, you have been a strong leader in efforts to promote quality after-school programs that assist our K-12 student population. As such, we know that you would also recognize the role that public libraries play as a committed partner and extension of the K-12 learning environment.
On behalf of my legislative colleagues who have a strong appreciation for the critical importance of public libraries, I would respectfully request that you consider the restoration of the $14 million to the Public Library Foundation and the Transaction Based Reimbursement program when you craft your January 2008 Budget."
Since Assemblyman Eng's office will now be sending the letter around to a vast array of legislative offices in the Capitol, please take a moment today to either:
1) Write the Governor directly, and express your disappointment/concern/frustration, etc. with the dramatic cuts to the PLF and TBR programs. Please explain how your library will be specifically impacted by the cuts. It is critical that you identify certain programs or services that will suffer or be eliminated entirely as a result of the two reductions. (e.g. you will not be able to purchase books and magazines for a year, the after-school "Homework Help Program" will cease functioning, literacy programs will be cut back, etc.) After you send your letter to the Governor, send a copy of that letter to your legislator, and ask him or her to sign on to the Assemblyman Eng letter.
2) If you are unable to do a letter to the Governor, merely call your legislator and ask him or her to sign on to the Assemblyman Eng letter.
GOVERNOR VETOES AB 1030-CABALLERO: LITERACY PROGRAMS FOR AT-RISK YOUTH
Late last week, the Governor vetoed AB 1030 by Assemblywoman Anna Caballero, which would have expanded the California Library Literacy and English Acquisition Services Program to services targeted to young adults, 16 years of age and over, who are not enrolled in school. The program would allow these youths to receive adult basic literacy tutoring and related services. Recent research by the State Library indicates that only 618 youths, ages 16-19 were served by this program in 2005-06. The author intended for the measure to heighten awareness regarding the need to serve this critically underserved population.
The Governor, in his veto message states:
"I am returning Assembly Bill 1030 without my signature.
While I support the California Library Literacy and English Acquisition Services Program, the changes proposed in this bill are unnecessary. Current law already authorizes the provision of English literacy service to adults and youth who are not enrolled in school. This bill would simply authorize the provision of such services to a specific subgroup of the same youth population.
In addition, I do not support repealing the requirement that, as a condition of funding, a local jurisdiction maintain the prior year's level of private support. Eliminating the requirement for this private support will result in either a decrease in services and/or create cost pressure on the General fund to backfill any loss of such funds.
For these reasons, I am unable to sign this bill."
You may recall from our July report on this measure that the Senate Education Committee consultant had recommended that the private local support "maintenance of effort" language be stricken from the bill, arguing, "Regardless of the effort exerted, a local jurisdiction may not be in a position to compel private donations, contributions, or grants. Is it reasonable to hold a local jurisdiction responsible for maintaining the provision of private funds over which it has no control?" The Senate Education Committee members, as well as the author and CLA, agreed with the consultant's recommendation. Unfortunately, the Governor had a difference of opinion regarding this language.
Posted on October 17, 2007 3:00 PM | Permalink