FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Kathy Fairbanks
February 19, 2009	(916) 443-0872 / (916) 813-1010 (cell)

California Alliance for Jobs Applauds Legislature for Passing Budget

Sacramento, CA - Jim Earp, Executive Director of the California Alliance for Jobs, issued the following statement today in response to the legislature passing a budget this morning.

"California legislators who voted for the budget showed real courage and leadership in the face of the most trying fiscal time our state has ever faced. They should be commended.

"This vote came on the very day the state was to begin shutting down hundreds of vital road, school, water and other infrastructure projects -- putting tens of thousands of Californians out of work and contributing to our further economic demise. Shutting down these projects also could have jeopardized our ability to get our fair share of the federal stimulus infrastructure dollars.

"While passing the budget does not immediately solve our credit crisis, it is the necessary first step in California's long and difficult journey of restoring our fiscal health and reestablishing our place in the credit market so we can fund the vital investments we need in our infrastructure and public works.

"The Alliance is disappointed that last minute negotiations resulted in the stripping of gasoline taxes that ultimately would have been dedicated to increase funding for transportation improvements. We desperately need new solutions to catch up to the needs of our crumbling and aging infrastructure.

"However, the budget does contain important provisions that will allow us to accelerate road repairs and traffic improvements, such as provisions allowing for public/private partnerships and the fast-tracking of approvals for certain transportation projects. These are meaningful reforms that will allow us to deliver infrastructure projects faster, more cost-effectively and more reliably.  

"We want to thank the Governor and Legislature for the difficult task of putting together this budget."

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