By turns angry and tearful, hundreds of people testified at the state Capitol on Monday about proposed budget cuts that would fundamentally reshape California’s education system, and not for the better in their opinions… Several speakers supported new taxes to avoid some of the cuts. The suggestions included "progressive taxes" in which those who earn more pay more, and a tax on oil extraction. The governor’s proposed cuts to higher education garnered the largest crowd of the day. Among the proposals are ending Cal Grant scholarships over a four-year period, virtually eliminating state funding for Hastings, a UC law school in San Francisco, and phasing out support of all UC professional schools, including law, business, dentistry, medicine and veterinary medicine, as well as the CSU business schools. Taken as a whole, the changes would seriously diminish California’s reputation for providing world-class public education, critics said.

Read full article [here].
by Derek J. Moore, The Santa Rosa Press Democrat.

Posted: June 1st, 2009, by: admin. Categories: . Awaiting Comments.