Lt. Gov. Bustamante and Controller Westly Join Fifth Stop of Statewide Effort Launched
by State Schools Superintendent O'Connell and State Treasurer Angelides
to Fight Governor's "One-Two Punch" to California's Kids

FRESNO/SUNNYVALE/BURBANK/NATIONAL CITY/SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell, State Treasurer Phil Angelides, Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante, and State Controller Steve Westly today joined with students, parents, teachers, and educational leaders at Jedediah Smith Elementary School in Sacramento, calling Governor Schwarzenegger's proposed FY 2005-06 budget "a one-two punch to California's kids." Despite unambiguous promises to protect education and balance the budget without new debt, Governor Schwarzenegger's new budget proposes burdening California 's children with massive new debt while also cutting back on their educational opportunities.

In light of the Governor's broken promises, four of the State's top public officials today visited the Sacramento school, making the fifth stop in their statewide effort to bring together students, parents, teachers and educational leaders to fight for a budget that protects opportunities for our children. O'Connell and Angelides launched the effort last week, visiting schools in Fresno, Sunnyvale, Burbank, and National City .

Breaking his promise to the people to "tear up the credit card" and end deficit borrowing, the Governor's budget depends on at least $6 billion in new borrowing -- bringing the State's credit card debt (the borrowing to cover budget deficits) to $31 billion, 68% higher than it was under Governor Gray Davis. That $31 billion will cost each man, woman, and child in the State approximately $860. While saddling our children with additional debt, Governor Schwarzenegger has compromised his credibility by breaking a promise he made publicly just one year ago when he asked already strapped schools to absorb a $2 billion cut in exchange for full funding of Proposition 98 when state revenues went up. Now, even though California's economy has improved, he has turned his back on students and proposed to cut $2.8 billion from California schools -- despite his commitment that the voter-approved, Proposition 98 school funding guarantee would be suspended only "over my dead body."

"Governor Schwarzenegger's budget hits California's children twice: first by loading California with new debt that our children will be forced to repay, then by cutting education. The Governor's budget is both fiscally unbalanced and morally unbalanced," said Treasurer Angelides.

Superintendent of Public Instruction O'Connell told students, parents and educators how the Governor's broken promise to California 's kids threatens educational opportunities for California 's young people.

"Governor Schwarzenegger says that he listens to the people, but he is ignoring California voters who voted to protect funding for our public schools. His plan will suspend Proposition 98 for a second year in a row, then render it meaningless through his own autopilot budget formula. California already ranks eighth from the bottom of all states in per-pupil funding, yet has some of the highest academic expectations, and the most challenging student population in the country. The Governor's budget fails our students, starves our schools, and consigns our public K-12 education system to a state of permanent underfunding," said Superintendent O'Connell.

The statewide effort launched by the State officials comes at a time when California can ill-afford further reductions in educational investment such as those proposed by Governor Schwarzenegger. A RAND Corporation report released earlier this month shows California falling far short of the national average in per-pupil spending, while student performance ranks near the bottom of the fifty states.