California Budget Deal
The debate over California's state budget used to be full of political fireworks and almost always lasted long past the Fourth of July. But Democrats can now pass a budget without Republican help and legislators lose their paychecks if they miss the June 15th deadline. Still, the deal being voted on is not without controversy and includes a subsidy to build high speed rail that would be paid from the proceeds of the state's cap and trade program. The budget also fails to restore long-term funding to some programs slashed during the recession.
Guests:
• John Myers, KQED Senior Politics and Government Editor
Further Reporting:
• Medi-Cal Gets Spending Boost in Governor's Revised Budget
• Budget Deal Includes Money for High-Speed Rail, In-Home Care
Teacher Tenure Threatened
A Los Angeles county superior court judge ruled that California's teacher tenure laws hurt students by making it too hard to dismiss ineffective teachers. Judge Treu said the harmful impact is even greater in minority and underserved communities. The lawsuit, Vergara v. California, was filed by a group called Students Matter and backed by a Silicon Valley businessman. Teachers' unions plan to appeal the ruling, saying that in the long run, it will harm the students it intends to help.
Guests:
• Jill Tucker, San Francisco Chronicle education reporter
• Jennifer Lynn Wolf, Stanford University senior lecturer
• Chris Rosenberg, John Muir Elementary Principal