Guest column: Making sure dollars reach the classroom

By Brian Maienschein

As I begin my first term as an Assembly member, I am encouraged at the prospects for the coming year. I see challenges ahead, but also the potential for legislative successes and fiscal gains.

Governor Brown’s initial budget unveiling offered Californians a favorable view of our state’s fiscal climate along with a directive to spend within its means. I believe that bringing spending in line with revenues needs to be made a guiding principle each year. Furthermore, I support the budget’s increased education funding, paying down of the state’s debts, and increasing its reserves.

The state seems to finally be heading in the direction of ensuring education dollars make it into our children’s classrooms, and I intend to make sure that happens. California needs to fully support K-12 education to ensure our children receive a quality education. Furthermore, in order for students to fully utilize our colleges and universities, they have to be able to afford to attend them. It is for this reason that I am coauthoring legislation to freeze tuition rates at the California State University and University of California campuses.

California must also work to improve its economic climate and create jobs. This year should bring news of a declining unemployment rate and companies opening new locations which are staffed by residents within our community rather than what we have witnessed over the past several years when small businesses and corporations closed their doors and relocated, leaving hundreds of local employees out of work. It is time to see our economy thrive, grow and succeed in this state.

I believe that with education protections and job-growth we will finally be able to get our students and workforce back on their feet for a more prosperous California.