SACRAMENTO
California Speaker Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, has tapped Assemblywoman Anna Caballero, D-Salinas, to serve on the special session budget committee created to address the state’s fiscal crisis.
“I’m honored to serve on this committee and take part in solutions that will protect California’s children, schools, and working families,” said Caballero, who represents San Benito County, in a statement released today. “We have very little time to fix this problem, and I’m eager to get started.”
The state faces a $28 billion budget hole over the next 18 months, and is expected to run out of cash by February, according to the statement.
“The residents of the state expect the Legislature to work together to craft common-sense, practical solutions,” Caballero added in the statement. “We need to work to stimulate the economy, create jobs and make the cuts necessary to balance the budget. But we also need new revenues to ensure that we can protect education, the elderly, disabled and public safety and I am ready to get this job done.”
The committee holds its first hearing at 1 p.m. Thursday at the State Capitol, Room 4202.
In addition to Caballero, the roster of Assembly Budget Committee members for the 2009-10 First Extraordinary Session includes: Assemblymember Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), Chair; Assemblymember Roger Niello (R-Fair Oaks), Vice Chair; Assemblymember Juan Arambula (D-Fresno); Assemblymember Sam Blakeslee (R-San Luis Obispo); Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield (D-Woodland Hills); Assemblymember Julia Brownley (D-Santa Monica); Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro (D-Arcata); Assemblymember Bill Emmerson (R-Redlands); Assemblymember Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles); Assemblymember Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield); Assemblymember Martin Garrick (R-Solana Beach); Assemblymember Danny Gilmore (R-Hanford); Assemblymember Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo); Assemblymember Bill Monning (D-Santa Cruz); Assemblymember Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara); Assemblymember Ira Ruskin (D-Redwood City); Assemblymember Jim Silva (R-Huntington Beach); Assemblymember Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley); and, Assemblymember Sandre Swanson (D-Alameda).
