FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Drina Collins July 29, 2003 (408) 277-1220
ASSEMBLYMAN MANNY DIAZ (D- San Jose) STATEMENT ON THE STATE BUDGET
After consulting with several local leaders, I have decided to vote in favor of passing the bi-partisan State Budget Proposal (AB 1765) now before the Assembly. I do this in order to protect critical services for children, the elderly, the infirm, and to protect public safety, and the state's economic viability.
The Budget achieves my three critical goals:
Republicans and Democrats agree that neither party "wins" in accepting the compromise. Budget decisions should not be based on winning. Our Senate colleagues have done their job and now we must do ours. Californians have waited long enough, school and nursing homes cannot continue to wait on the whims of "party politics."
It is easy to lead during the good times - the true test of leadership is during bad times. With a huge budget deficit, we are forced to make difficult choices about our priorities.
For that reason, I will vote NO on the proposal to shift $ 250 million in redevelopment funds (AB 1755). I am firm in my commitment to the working men and women of San Jose and Silicon Valley that access to affordable housing is one of my top priorities. While AB 1755 incorporates many of the ideas that I support, it goes too far in shifting $250 million from the redevelopment account to the state General Fund, in order to balance the budget. I disagree and will vote NO.
There is still work to be done to fix the structural problems that our state finance system faces. I will stay focused on those issues and work with my colleagues to come up with creative solutions that result in meaningful reform.
I am grateful for the input I have received during this fiscal crisis from countless of constituents and community leaders throughout the 23rd Assembly District.
Statement issued at 7:15 am, July 29, 2003.
* * * *
Drina Collins, Principal Consultant/Director of Public Affairs
Office of Assemblymember Manny Diaz
100 Paseo de San Antonio, Suite 319
San Jose, CA 95113
(408) 277-1220
FAX: (408) 277-1036
NNV will publish selected press releases of interest to our readers. E-mail us at JudyET@NNVESJ.org or fax to (408) 272-4040.
Copyright© 2002, 2003 by Judy Thompson. All rights reserved. New Neighborhood Voice assumes no responsibility for the reliability or accuracy of any information posted on this page. Updated 8/1/03