California is still struggling with a massive budget deficit, but advocates have scored some success in defeating Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposed funding cuts that would eliminate child care slots and support for providers, according to reports.
After the governor proposed the cuts last month, advocates launched the Campaign to Save Child Care and then gained legislative support in recent weeks.
In less than a week after the Governor proposed the total elimination of state general fund support for child care subsidies and support services as well as total elimination of CalWORKs, the Assembly budget subcommittees (in a joint hearing) on Education and Health & Human Services voted on May 19th to reject both May Budget Revision proposals. At the May 25th Senate Budget & Fiscal Review Committee hearing, Senators also voted to reject both proposals. – California Child Care Resource and Referral Network.
The budget cycle, though, is not over. Still, the tone among legislators is a hopeful sign for advocates still worried about deep cuts to child care programs.
“The CCCRRN (California Child Care Resource and Referral Network) and the California Department of Education estimate that a total 200,000 children would be affected by the (governor’s) cuts; 100,000 working parents would have to leave their jobs to care for their children; and 130,000 jobs in the child care field would be eliminated.” – “Child Care Funding on the Potential Chopping Block of State Budgets,” CLASP, 6/10.
This Sunday is Father’s Day and here are a few of the nation’s top dad bloggers to help you keep track of news about the modern dad: