In the News

Gov. Brown Releases Revised 2012-13 State Budget Proposal

May 15, 2012

   On May 14, Governor Jerry Brown offered revisions to his proposed 2012-2013 budget. The revised spending plan estimates that the state has a $15.7 billion budget gap - an amount that is $6.5 billion greater than the amount the Governor identified in his January proposed budget. The state's budget problem has increased primarily because of lower tax revenue than projected, higher costs for schools, and decisions by the courts and federal government to block previously approved budget cuts.

SacBee Columnist Dan Walters Labels Sen. Lowenthal Courageous

April 20, 2012

   Budget subcommittees in both legislative houses conducted hearings this week on whether to appropriate money for Gov. Jerry Brown's plan to link the northern and southern halves of the state with a high-speed bullet train.

   The Assembly's hearing was, charitably, superficial.

California Lawmakers Scrutinize Rail Plan

April 20, 2012

   A day after a highly critical report on a $68.4 billion high-speed rail proposal in California, Democrats who control the Legislature said they remained committed to the project while the chairman of the authority that would oversee construction said it's still a risk worth taking.

   On Wednesday, lawmakers began evaluating the latest proposal from the California High-Speed Rail Authority in Senate and Assembly hearings. They are considering Gov. Jerry Brown's request to sell about $2.6 billion in voter-approved bonds to begin construction.

Senator Talks About California Higher Education At CSULB

April 16, 2012

The Daily 49er
By Jacqueline Sosa

Lowenthal addresses public education cuts at CSULB town hall meeting

April 12, 2012

Long Beach Press-Telegram
By Kelly Puente

KNX Radio: Sen. Lowenthal Expresses Outrage at CSU Pres. Pay Increases

March 22, 2012

Sen. Lowenthal spoke with KNX1070 AM morning host Dick Helton on Thursday, March 22 about the tabling of a bill in the Legislature that sought to cap CSU executive salaries. The Senator expressed his outrage at the recent 10 percent salary increases of several CSU presidents approved by the CSU Board of Trustees.

Columnist Dan Walters Calls Sen. Lowenthal 'Brainy'

March 02, 2012

Sacramento Bee
by Dan Walters

New Bill Aims to Protect Port and Workers

February 24, 2012

Long Beach Post
by Brian Addison

Lawmakers to Gov. Jerry Brown: Slow down

February 18, 2012

Los Angeles Times
by Chris Megerian

Gov. Jerry Brown’s budget proposal is far more than a spending plan. It includes major changes to welfare, child care, healthcare and school funding.
   Now some lawmakers, who are tasked with reviewing Brown’s proposals, are signaling that they're ready to hit the brakes.
   "It's atrocious we're making these extraordinary policy changes through the budget process,” Sen. Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) said during a hearing in the Capitol on Thursday.

High-speed rail advocate skeptical of Calif. plan

February 17, 2012

Orange County Register
by Martin Wisckol

Republicans are among the loudest critics of California’s high-speed rail plan, which is endorsed by President Barack Obama and Gov. Jerry Brown. But even a key advocate of the general concept of high-speed rail – one who worked to get the successful rail bond, Proposition 1A, on the 2008 ballot – says the California plan is not ready to proceed.