Budget cuts: Pass the buck to someone else

A string of planned protests, known as the "More than Numbers" campaign, is somewhat peculiar.

This time around organizers, which includes our own Associated Students Inc., aren't just hoping to stop budget cuts. They're also campaigning to ensure the Cal State University system actually gets an increase in funding.

According to CSU Bakersfield, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed 2010-11 budget restores $305 million to the CSU system that was cut for 2009-10. The proposal also includes an additional $60.6 million for CSU enrollment growth.

"This is the first time we got a proposal like that in years, and not to take advantage of this opportunity…would be irresponsible on our part," said Chris Chavez, ASI president.

However, California is still dealing with a 12.3 percent unemployment rate, which is one of the highest in the nation.

This begs the question: How could the state pay for an increase in CSU funding? Especially when it faces a deficit for the 2010-11 fiscal year.

According to CSU Bakersfield, the governor plans to deal with the deficit by implementing "a variety of [budget] cuts and shifts in spending, many of which will start in the current fiscal year. But he vowed to protect education saying it was the state's best way to invest in the future."

In other words, the governor is passing the buck from the CSU to someone else when it comes to getting their funding cut. That's acceptable for Chavez and, perhaps, other CSU supporters.

After calling the situation "unfortunate," Chavez said "the CSU can’t take the brunt of the impact anymore. We've been getting cut after cut after cut for the last several years."

Chavez said that one area the governor's proposal focuses on for budget cuts is the department of health and human services.

"It's unfortunate. At the same time we need support," he said.

Chavez added that chances are slim the CSU receives everything the governor has proposed, but that ASI needs to try to get as much funding for the CSU as it can.

Photo info: Protestors show their opposition to the budget cuts in front of the Office of the Chancellor, Nov. 18, 2008

Photo credit: Chay Chhuon, Daily 49er

We're number one...literally

Associated Students Inc. held last Wednesday a "More than Numbers Flashmob" photo event. The pose was in the shape of a number one, which explains my witty headline. :)

Chris Chavez, ASI president, is in the center. He said it was part of a larger campaign to mobilize students in opposing budget cuts to higher education.

"We are more than numbers!" Chavez said to the crowd. "We are Long Beach!"

Photo & reporting credit: Michael Chan Yee, Daily 49er photo editor

ASI recycling center gets help from state Assembly

A bill that could save services at the university's recycling center is headed to the governor's desk, after being approved in the California Assembly.

Lee Johnson, Associated Students Inc. recycling coordinator, wrote in an email: "ABX8 7 just passed out of the Assembly with overwhelming bipartisan support. That is the bill that reinstates funding for our recycle center."

The bill passed 63-0 Thursday afternoon, said Bryan Early, policy associate for Californians Against Waste.

According to the environmental organization, the bill would retroactively refund core money for the state's recycling fund and will “temporarily stabilize the fund.” The state has heavily borrowed from the fund due to its budget crisis, putting recycling centers in a tough spot since they depend on the fund for revenue.

Lee said the governor usually has 30 days to sign or veto the bill. However, since this bill was signed in an extraordinary session, Lee didn't know if the deadline was the same.

Regardless, Early said he thinks Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will "act on this quickly," and said his organization has hope that the governor will sign the bill into law.

"We think [the governor] should sign it," Early said. "I think its vote in the Assembly speaks for itself...it's hard to imagine an excuse he would come up for not signing it."

Photo credit: Alexandria Gilner; photo is of the ASI recycling center

Welcome! Now let's get to Beach politics

University politics ~ WOW ~ how exciting!

I know, you think I'm kidding myself.

But really, the politics behind what goes on here at The Beach interests me. In reality, all of life is politics. But what makes the political machinery at our university so interesting is the money - LOTS OF IT.

Consider this, the Cal State University system has a budget of $6.7 billion, about 20 percent of that money you and I can't always see how it's spent. That's because $1.34 billion of the CSU budget is in the hands of auxiliary organizations like Associated Students Inc., the CSULB Foundation and 49er Shops Inc.

What's going on with that money? That's one of many questions this blog hopes to answer.

There's a bill before California's Assembly, SB 330, that will allow us to see how that money is spent. However, top officials from ASI are against it. You can read more about that here: Transparency bill redefines 'auxiliary'

Read that article and let me know what you think about the issue by voting in the poll to the right. Remember, it's YOUR money that they're spending...