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I believe that all Californians should have the right of choice. This choice means access to family planning and prevention through services and contraception. It means that those Californians who choose motherhood should have the resources and healthcare necessary to ensure their child is growing during pregnancy and after birth to be as healthy and successful as they can be. This choice means that a child who does not ask to be brought into this world should be able to access the resources necessary to grow up without illness, without abuse, and with educational opportunities that will allow them to rise to their individual potential.
However, the state is facing economic challenges that threaten these choices. Why is this happening? First, we must not underestimate the magnitude of the current housing crisis on our economy. Massive foreclosures have caused home prices to decline, which has resulted in lower property tax payments. This results in a loss of consumer confidence that has lead Californians to forgo purchases of new consumer goods, which provide sales tax revenue.
The Governor’s past budget actions have affected choice by cutting services that assist our neediest. In 2003, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger reduced the vehicle license fee, cutting a critical source of revenue for cities and counties. Though popular at the time, this unilateral action cost the state general fund $4 billion in the first year, and the price tag has grown to $6 billion annually. The net impact has now surpassed $20 billion. Additionally, over the past three years, the Legislature has increased spending to support some vital programs such as Cal Fire and firefighting equipment to better prepare for emergency response, investments proven invaluable during last fall's wildfires. Complying with voter-approved initiatives and court-mandated costs in the prison system has increased spending by hundreds of millions of dollars. However, increased spending on other state programs has been primarily driven by growth in population and inflation.
The fact is that in our state and nation choices become narrowed based on income and status. Those who live in the greatest poverty are the least likely to have the resources to access pre-natal, contraceptive and pediatric care, the kind of services that agencies like Planned Parenthood provide. They also have the least resources to deal with the stressors that can lead a child to become a dependent of the state in our foster care system. The result of our failure to invest in preventative services is reflected in the harsh fact that 70% of today’s prisoners were yesterday’s foster children.
We must support the services that assist our residents now so they can improve our economy, become working taxpayers, and eliminate the unfortunate situations that can lead to more crime. The stark reality is that in California we have less revenue this year, yet we continue to serve a larger population of Californians. California is a wonderful place to live, historically rich in natural and human resources, a place that has traditionally given everyone the choices and opportunities to succeed. We cannot lightly give up on these choices if we are to maintain our great state's position of leadership in this nation and the world.
