FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEFrom: Martinez, Eduardo [Eduardo.Martinez@asm.ca.gov]
Sent: Friday, July 20, 2007 2:10 PM
Subject: Press Release -- Portantino Comments on the Passage of the State Budget

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Eduardo Martinez

July 20, 2007 916-319-2044

 

Portantino Comments on the Passage of the State Budget

Compromise plan would fully fund K-12 education, reduce future “operating deficits,” and help restore California as the entertainment capitol of the world

 

Sacramento – Assemblymember Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) offered the following comments in response to the passage of the state budget:

 

“Although far from perfect, the budget compromise the Assembly passed early this morning is a big step forward for all Californians,” said Portantino. “Our Proposition 98 school guarantee and our public university compacts are fully funded, our reserve ‘rainy day’ fund is the largest in history, and local governments will receive a big shot in the arm for fire and police protection; all without having to hurt California’s most vulnerable population as the Governor had originally proposed in his budget.”

 

“As the Chair of Higher Education, I am particularly pleased that although colleges faced some threats early in the budget negotiations the full funding of our public institutions was the right thing to do for our students and our economy. In addition, I was also happy to have helped secure a number of important tax credits to combat the growing problem of runaway film production. As a former filmmaker, I’ve worked throughout this state on many productions; from San Francisco to San Diego and from Mammoth to San Juan Bautista and from Monterey Bay to the Mohave Desert I’ve been part of film crews that have been filled with good paying jobs. However, it no longer goes without saying that the entertainment industry will always call California home. Our production leakage has been so great that entire facets of filmed entertainment no longer exist in California. One such area is Made for TV movies where nearly 100 percent film outside of the US in Canada.”

 

“The budget compromise addresses this growing problem by offering financial incentives to produce in California. By encouraging film and TV production, we generate even more for the local and state economies and create good paying jobs that all Californians can enjoy.”

 

###