Assemblymember David Chiu (D – San Francisco) today issued the following statement after Governor Gavin Newsom announced his proposed budget for the 2020-2021 Fiscal Year:
“Today, Governor Newsom rightly pointed out that California’s best days lie ahead. Our state’s fiscal health is strong, and we have every reason to be proud of the incredible economic growth experienced.
The Governor’s efforts to streamline the process of accessing affordable housing funding will help build new affordable housing quickly and stretch our limited dollars further. I appreciate his continued $500 million commitment to funding the low-income housing tax credit, which remains the most efficient and important funding source for affordable housing development.
However, to address our shortage of 3.5 million homes, we must go further on housing production, and I look forward to working with the administration to ensure robust housing production measures are enacted this year.
Between expanding MediCal to undocumented seniors, adding an Office of Health Care Affordability to focus on cost containment, and experimenting with an innovative new approach to prescription drugs, this budget makes bringing down the cost of health care a serious priority. I am happy to hear the Governor’s intention to address surprise medical billing and am eager to work with him on Assembly Bill 1611 to that end.
The Governor has made clear in this budget, and in prior statements, that if PG&E does not come out of bankruptcy a fundamentally transformed company, serious intervention including a state takeover of the utility, may be warranted. That is welcome news, as is most of this state budget, which I look forward to passing in June.”