CA Dems also splitting on social-services spending
As noted in a previous blog, “CA Dem vs CA Dem on taxes,” California’s virtual one-party state is developing fissures. One is over taxes.
Another is over spending on social programs. New Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, and others believe Gov. Jerry Brown is too frugal with the tax dollars, despite the $7 billion extra coming in from Proposition 30, and want to spend more. The Times reported:
“Too many Californians are not part of this economic growth,” De Leon said at a lunch hosted by the Sacramento Press Club, where he called for making higher education and career technical training more affordable and accessible.
Income inequality is particularly stark in California, he said, adding, “Education is the greatest equalizer we have.” He also said the Senate would pursue efforts to increase the number of jobs associated with green technology.
De Leon said Democratic lawmakers would try to restore the social services safety net, including an expansion of child care for working mothers, by offering changes in this year’s budget but conceeded, “The resources are finite. There’s not a lot to play with.”
That dovetails with President Obama’s push to make community college classes free.
But de Leon is not pursuing policies that could provide relief for the poor and middle-class families by reducing housing costs, such as reducing the powers of the California Coastal Commission to stunt property development; and limiting the powers to restrict housing growth of Local Area Formation Commissions — LAFCOs.
He also could work to repeal SB 375, the 2008 law that restricts suburban housing growth — “sprawl” — to promote high-rises like in the old Soviet Union and mass transit. Which in turn raises prices for the poor and the middle class.
But none of those reforms will happen. Hence the push for higher taxes — which also will hit the poor and the middle class — to pay for more programs to alleviate the damage done to the poor and the middle class by high taxes, LAFCOs and the CCC.
Surf’s up!
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