A.S. Government Resources

A Resolution Urging the California Government to Immediately Pass a State Budget

WHEREAS, the Associated Students of San Diego State University is the representative body, and the official voice for the approximate 29,500 students of San Diego State University; and

WHEREAS, it is the mission of the Associated Students to support the mission of San Diego State University and to create, promote and fund social, recreational, cultural, and educational programs and facilities both on campus and in the community, advocate for student interests, and provide leadership opportunities and participate in shared governance; and

WHEREAS, article IV, Section 12, Subsection c(3) of the California State Constitution clearly states that a budget bill must be passed by the state legislature by midnight on June 15 of every year; and

WHEREAS, the fiscal year for the state of California begins on July 1st, the day in which the previous year’s budget expires; and

WHEREAS, public facilities, including the University of California (UC), California State University (CSU), and California Community Colleges (CCC) cannot properly or adequately operate without a state budget in place; and

WHEREAS, thousands of qualified students have been turned away from the UC and CSU systems, and have been unable to get necessary classes in the CCC system due to a lack of funding from the state; and

WHEREAS, the state of California is currently in a fiscal emergency, as declared by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in January, 2010; and

WHEREAS, the state of California faces a projected budget deficit of $19.1 billion; and

WHEREAS, the current election season, which includes elections for the state Governor, state legislators, U.S Senate, and U.S House of Representatives, has caused visible political tensions amongst current state and federal representatives, adding to the difficulty of passing a state budget; and

WHEREAS, this year marks the 19th time in the last 25 years in which the California state government has failed to meet the constitutionally mandated deadline, and this year also marks the longest period of time in which the state has gone without a budget; and

WHEREAS, the current version of the budget legislation includes $610 million to backfill the cuts made to the UC and CSU systems last year, reflecting a reinvestment in California Higher Education, as well as other provisions that aim to keep the state deficit from growing; therefore; be it

RESOLVED, that the Associated Students of San Diego State University urges the California state legislature and the Governor of California to work with each other to immediately pass a state budget; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the members of the California State Assembly and California State Senate explore ways to produce a workable budget that both meets the June 15th deadline set by the California Constitution as well as best serves the people of California, and finally; be it

RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be distributed widely, including but not limited to, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Senator Darrell Steinberg, Assembly Member John A. Pérez, Senator Dean Florez, Senator Dennis Hollingsworth, Assembly Member Charles Calderon, Assembly Member Martin Garrick, Assembly Member Martin Block, Assembly Member Lori Saldaña, Assembly Member Joel Anderson, Assembly Member Mary Salas, Senator Denise Ducheny, Assembly Member Nathan Fletcher, Senator Christine Kehoe, California State Student Association, All Associated Students in the California State University, University of California, and Community College systems.

Passed by the Associated Students Council on September 29, 2010