Statement by Assemblymember Olsen on Education Funding and Today’s Student Rallies

SACRAMENTO – 3-5-12, Assemblymember Kristin Olsen, R-Modesto, issued the following statement in response to student rallies at the State Capitol in support of education funding:

“I stand with the students and educators here at the Capitol today, and across the State, who are advocating that the Legislature make K-12 and higher education funding a priority. The vast majority of Californians have been clear that education should be one of our top budget priorities as a state, and I agree. California economic success is directly tied to educational success. Our students need top-quality schools that give them the opportunity to reach their career and educational goals. And California’s job creators need top-quality schools that provide them with a steady stream of well prepared, educated employees. 

“I disagree that raising taxes is the only way to give our students the level of funding they deserve. Even though tax revenues grew this year, K-12 funding dropped by $700 million from the prior year.  At the same time, health and welfare spending grew by $3 billion year over year. And just last week, Democrats rejected about $1 billion in welfare cuts proposed by Governor Brown. Rejecting these cuts puts education funding in further danger.

“We need to focus California’s resources on education, higher education and public safety first, cut unnecessary and inefficient state bureaucracy, and then use remaining taxpayer dollars to fund other programs.”