Steady and strong economic growth is central. https://www.thebalance.com/us-economic-outlook-3305669 It has been strong since the Great Recession under President Obama and now President Trump; however we are overdue for an economic slowdown. We don’t know when it will occur, how long it will last, or how deep it will be. It may occur in the next two to three years. If so, unemployment will rise; businesses will be hurt; tax revenues will fall, and programs most needed by the newly impoverished will be threatened. The next President needs a strong pro-growth economic program and a strong counter-cyclical economic plan to execute during a likely recession.  

Leading Democrats in the House of Representatives have introduced important new legislation to improve the affordability of private individual health insurance and bolster enrollment in the Exchanges (e.g. Covered California). 

By the start of the 2oth Century, Argentina was the 7th wealthiest nation in the world, based in large part on its strong agricultural sector, but also on its growing industrialization. Argentina is now ranked in the mid 50’s in per capita GDP; its per capita GDP is about 1/4th of the US. This is a huge, beautiful and under-populated nation of 46 million; most live in and around Buenos Aires (14 million). What happened to its economy over the last 120 years

Socialism is when the state owns the means of production. The British National Health Service is socialized medicine in that the state pays the doctors and nurses a salary (they are employees of the state and the state owns the hospitals); it works very well. Great Britain is not a socialist state, but it has chosen socialized medicine to deliver health care for its citizens. Cuba is a socialist state that likewise uses socialized medicine to deliver health care to its citizens. While its economy is a mess, its delivery of health care is excellent with very good health outcomes.

The California Constitution guarantees the right to a free public school education in Article 9. It finds “SECTION 1.  A general diffusion of knowledge and intelligence being essential to the preservation of the rights and liberties of the people, the Legislature shall encourage by all suitable means the promotion of intellectual, scientific, moral, and agricultural improvement.” In Section 5 it requires the state legislature to assure that every child is educated. “SEC. 5.  The Legislature shall provide for a system of common schools by which a free school shall be kept up and supported in each district at least six months in every year, after the first year in which a school has been established.” 

Public education funding in the US is mostly from local property taxes. As a result of residential living patterns, it is highly inequitable; students whose families live in high income communities get far more funding for their public school education while students whose families live in in poorer communities get far less.

LAUSD School Board Election on Tuesday, March 5

Allison Bajracharya for LAUSD Board District 5

There are a lot of candidates running to succeed Ref Rodriquez in LAUSD Board District 5. http://laschoolreport.com/at-least-9-candidates-will-be-on-the-ballot-in-march-to-fill-lausds-vacant-school-board-seat/ The problem is it’s a special election, and very few people vote in special elections, so learn about the candidates, do vote for the one you think can best make a difference in educating our children. We need a fearless, dynamic and effective leader for all children. I hope you’ll consider Allison Bajracharya.

CALIFORNIA HEALTH REFORMS: Where Are We Going? How Do We Get There? California’s Way Forward!

California Spending and Funding for K-12 Education

In light of the LA Teacher’s strike, I have been wondering about California’s funding for K-12 education. In the Governor’s Proposed Budget for 2019-20, the Department of Finance (DOF) reports that California will fund K-12 education at a bit over $17,000 per student in the coming fiscal year. DOF points to very steady and very large increases in K-12 funding growing from $47 billion in FY 2011-12 to $80 billion in FY 2019-20.

There were three major roads that California explored to cover all Californians prior to the adoption of the Affordable Care Act.

THOUGHTS FOR CALIFORNIA HEALTH REFORMS

Where Are We Going? How Do We Get There?

California’s Way Forward.

There were three major roads that California has explored to cover all Californians.

We have a wealth of strong Democratic candidates to consider for 2020. So far I find Cory Booker the most accomplished, most inspirational, the gutsiest and most in touch with the directions our nation needs to move.

Some candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination are espousing Medicare for All. What do they mean by this?

Governor Newsom has recently proposed to further improve California’s individual market, building on the improvements pioneered in the Affordable Care Act and implemented by Covered California. He mentions three key issues: premium assistance extended to 600% of the federal poverty level (FPL), greater assistance with premium assistance and cost sharing for individuals with incomes less than 400% of FPL, and reinstating the individual mandate. He as yet has given no details.

Since the settlement of the LA Teacher’s Strike, I have been wondering “what did it all accomplish?”

We are going to hear non-stop about the wall and immigration until the 2020 election. President Trump believes this is what his core backers want, and it's a symbol for him and them.

Revenues for the state General Fund will be up by about $5 billion in the 2019-20 budget to $146 billion. The primary sources of the General Fund are: the personal income tax ($100 billion), the sales tax ($27 billion) and the corporations’ tax ($13 billion). 

http://www.dof.ca.gov/Budget/

The Governor is proposing $158 billion, of which $40 billion is state General Fund for Health and Human Services programs. This includes Medi-Cal ($100 billion), public health ($3 billion), State Hospitals ($2 billion), Developmental Services ($7.8 billion), realignment funds from the state to counties ($11.5 billion), IHSS ($12.7 billion), SSI ($2.8 billion), CalWorks ($4 billion), and other ($14 billion).

The Governor’s budget proposes $36.4 billion for higher education. UC would receive $9.6 billion, an increase of 3%. CSU would receive $7.8 billion, an increase of 6%. Community Colleges would receive $16.2 billion, an increase of 2.6%. Student Aid would receive $2.7 billion, an increase of 12%.

Governor Newsom’s Proposed CA State Budget on K-12 Education

http://www.dof.ca.gov/Budget/

Funding for K-12 is proposed at $80.7 billion, an increase of $2.9 billion. This includes an increase of $2 billion to the Local Control Funding Formula and an increase of over $576 million for special education. In addition, there is an one time $3 billion proposed to reduce school’s pension costs and $125 million in new funds for increased slots for preschool for low income children – 180,000 slots.