California Democratic Congressional Delegation Calls on Governor to Fight for Federal Funding
Is the Governor tough enough to convince his fellow California Republicans to stand up to President Bush and the Republican Congressional leadership and deliver for our state
Media Contact: Heather Wong, 202.225.3072
February 17, 2005
Thursday, Governor Schwarzenegger will meet with the California Congressional Delegation and state leaders to discuss federal funding for California. Currently, California only receives a 79-cent return for every tax dollar paid in federal taxes. President Bush’s proposed budget will leave California as one of four states that will receive less federal funding than in the last fiscal year. In the 1980’s California collected about $7 billion more annually from the federal budget than it sent to Washington in taxes, today, California faces the untenable loss of about $50 billion a year.
“The Democrats will fight to increase federal funding for California, but we need the help of the Governor and Republicans in the California Delegation,” said Rep. Zoe Lofgren, Chair of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation. “The Republicans have a 15 seat lead in the House, and there are 20 California Republicans in Congress. The Republicans cannot pass the budget without the California Republicans on their side. The math is clear; the California Republicans have the power in Congress to ensure that programs affecting Californian’s everyday lives most are protected and funded. The question is, whether the Governor is tough enough to convince his fellow California Republicans to stand up to President Bush and the Republican Congressional leadership and deliver for our state?”
Beyond the items on the meeting agenda, the following are highlights of key areas where the California Democratic Congressional Delegation wants to work with the Governor and California Republicans to garner additional federal funding for California:
Education
ˆNo Child Left Behind / Title I: The President’s budget provides $12 billion less for education in FY06 than was promised in the No Child Left Behind Act. If education is fully funded in FY06 California could receive more than $1.5 billion in additional federal funds.
ˆ IDEA / Special Education funding: The Bush budget provides $3.5 billion less than promised for special education in the IDEA Improvement Act enacted by Congress just two months ago, providing local school systems with less than half of the funding they are owed by the federal government. This marks the fifth year in a row President Bush has failed to put us on the path to fully funding special education.
ˆAfter-school programs: President Bush provides $1.3 billion less for after-school programs than was promised in the No Child Left Behind Act.
ˆWork to fight to save educational technology grants, Safe and Drug-Free Schools, GEAR-UP, Perkins Loans, vocational education programs.
Medicaid: The President’s Medicaid budget shifts huge financial burden to the states, and could mean a loss of more than $4.6 billion for California over ten years. California is dead last in the 51 federally funded Medicaid programs. Spending for Medicaid California is only about 2/3 per capita as in the state of Mississippi.
CDBG: The President’ proposal to dismantle this program and move it to Commerce will mean a $1.9 billion cut in community development funds, meaning $250 million less for California.
FAA / Airport Improvement Program: President’s budget cuts $750 million
Homeland Security: Two months ago the President signed the National Intelligence Reform Act that promised funding for at least 2,000 new border patrol agents this year but his budget provides funding for only 210 new border agents. President’s budget also reduces FIRE Act grants by $150 million and eliminates the SAFER Grant Program which helps fire departments hire new firefighters.
Law enforcement: The Budget proposes that about $1 billion in funding be cut from DOJ state and local assistance programs, including the COPS program
Clean Water State Revolving Fund: Cut by $361 million under the President's budget, meaning $25 million less for California.
