California is at Cross Roads, State Senator Says During Speech at UCSD

Jeff Gattas | May 12, 2008

Senator Denise Ducheny and Chancellor Marye Anne Fox

Chancellor Marye Anne Fox hosted California state Sen. Denise Moreno Ducheny, D-San Diego, Friday at the Faculty Club for a candid discussion about the state’s current budget situation with business leaders, faculty, staff and others who have vested interest in UC San Diego. Ducheny, who is chair of the Senate Budget and Finance Committee, gave a “State Budget 101” presentation not only on how the state collects and spends its revenues but also how our spending choices affect the day-to-day lives of Californians.

California is at a crossroads and its residents need to make decisions on what our priorities as a state should be, Ducheny explained. She stated that we can “pay now” by investing in education, foster care, services for seniors or the disabled and infrastructure; or we can “pay later” with an unprepared workforce, an increased prison population and more traffic. Ducheny noted that for the first time in California’s history, the funds allocated for higher education equal the funds allocated for prisons.

In her own presentation, Chancellor Fox demonstrated the value UC San Diego adds to the local and state economies through workforce development, new jobs and industry, innovation and public service. Student Jacqueline Kennedy spoke about the importance of access for all students and about how any increased costs keep students who have financial difficulties from becoming productive and contributing citizens in the state.
 
Ducheny wrapped up the forum with a challenge to the participants to rethink how we may raise revenues and look at the longer-term investment and dividends that occur when we invest in our communities and our families.