Assembly Member Jim Beall, Jr., a member of the State Assembly Budget Committee, joined FIRST 5 to provide the most up to date information on the state budget.

Several community members gathered in the FIRST 5 Santa Clara County Community Room, as Assembly Member Beall explained that the Conference Committee took a balanced approach to crafting the budget, with tough cuts in every area of the budget, necessary tax increases, and other solutions.

He reiterated the commitment of the Democrats in the Legislature to preserve Proposition 98 dollars, reject cuts to child development funds, and to support FIRST 5.

Assembly Member Beall described his attempts to convince his Republican colleagues that cutting funds for services and programs that serve our children to solve our state’s short-term budgetary problems will have dire financial consequences for our state’s health, welfare, and criminal justice system in the future.

Nevertheless, he expressed his optimism that an agreement will eventually be reached and that a state budget would be signed in the near future.

Prior to representing the 24th Assembly District on the Legislature, Beall served for 12 years on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and 14 years on the San Jose City Council, demonstrating a deep commitment to the county’s neediest residents including emancipated foster youth, uninsured children, seniors, disabled individuals and those who have been diagnosed with mental health issues.