State Senator for Redlands-Loma Linda Answers Gov. Brown's Budget Proposal

The state senator for Redlands and Loma Linda issued a statement Thursday on Gov. Jerry Brown's 2013-14 state budget proposal.

"Governor Brown is right," State Sen. Bill Emmerson said. "We must keep the brakes on and live within our means. He is also right that Democrats are going to have a hard time saying no to new spending and only time will tell if the Supermajority will have the fortitude to do so."

Emmerson, R-Hemet, who recently relocated his district office to Redlands, is Vice Chair of the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, according to his staff.

"In terms of the budget presented today, I'm disappointed that only $2.7 of more than $6 billion provided by Proposition 30 is going to K-12 education and community colleges," Emmerson said.

Earlier Thursday, Brown proposed "a balanced state budget" that includes investment in education, health care reform and "keeps California on a long-term path to fiscal stability," according to the governor's staff.

Brown, a Democrat, drew a distinction between the state deficit and the state debt.

"The deficit's gone; the wall of debt remains," Brown told reporters in Sacramento. The state's $36 billion debt could be reduced to $4.3 billion by 2016, Brown said.

Emmerson represents the 23rd state senate district, which includes Rancho Cucamonga, Big Bear Lake, Redlands, Loma Linda, Highland, Yucaipa, Calimesa, Beaumont, Banning, Hemet, San Jacinto and Menifee.

A pdf map of the 23rd district is attached to this report.

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