Assembly Member Frank Bigelow, R-O’Neals,
today responded to the release of Governor Jerry Brown’s 2013-14 budget
proposal, saying that he agreed with the Governor’s call to continue to
rein in spending. Bigelow said that lawmakers and the Governor should
focus on providing adequate funding for California’s education system
while keeping local communities safe, promoting job growth and getting
the economy back on track.
“I’m pleased to hear that the Governor has called for fiscal restraint
and acknowledges that we need to continue to rein in spending,” Bigelow
said. “However, I remain concerned that state spending has increased
yet again and that not all of the voter-passed Proposition 30 funding is
being funneled towards our young people and their classrooms.”
Bigelow agrees with Governor Brown that California’s K-12 and college
students should be the state’s top funding priority. Further, Bigelow
will continue his commitment to rural education and rural school
districts to ensure that students in rural California have the same
opportunities as their urban counterparts. Assemblymember Bigelow stands
ready and willing to work with the Governor and Democrats to craft
responsible solutions to statewide problems and ensure that the people
of rural California are put back to work.
Bigelow said that he is committed to higher education. One of his most
important budget priorities is ensuring that the Legislature upholds
its education promises to voters. He has co-authored Assembly Bill 67
(Gorell), which will provide a seven-year tuition freeze at the state’s
public colleges and universities while the Proposition 30 taxes are in
effect, and use this money to increase higher education funding.
“I’m proud to co-author AB 67, my colleague Assemblymember Jeff
Gorell’s bill that implements a tuition freeze at the state’s public
colleges and universities,” Bigelow said. “This bill will make college
affordable for all students.”
Beyond education, one of Bigelow’s top priorities this year is job
creation. He understands that more private sector jobs means more tax
revenue for education and public safety without raising taxes on job
creators.
Assembly Member Frank Bigelow, R-O’Neals, represents the 5th Assembly
District in the California Legislature, which includes all or parts of
Placer, El Dorado, Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Madera
and Mono counties.
