GovBlog: UC Berkeley » Government Services

U.S. President’s Speeches and Remarks

Susana Hinojosa — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 21:29:01 +0000

President Obama has given several very important policy speeches during this month of September 2009. In general transcripts of President Obama’s speeches are easily found on the White House Speeches and Remarks site. A few of the September 2009 speeches are highlighted here:

Remarks by the President in a National Address to America’s Schoolchildren (Sept. 8th, Wakefield High School, Arlington, VA)

Remarks by the President to a Joint Session of Congress on Health Care (Sept. 9th, U.S. Capital, Washington, D.C.)

Remarks by the President on Financial Rescue and Reform (Sept. 14th, Federal Hall, New York, NY)

California: LAO July 2009 Budget Package

Susana Hinojosa — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 20:33:37 +0000

The California Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) has issued the report: July 2009 Budget Package that summarizes the budget actions of the state Legislature and the Governor. The Legislature passed amendments to the 2009-10 Budget Bill on July 24, 2009. The Governor signed the budget package on July 28, 2009 and in doing so vetoed $489 million in General Fund appropriations. The new budget authorizes total General Fund spending of $84.6 billion and leaves an estimated reserve of $500 million at the end of FY 2009-10. Tables in the report of interest:

Expenditure-Related Budget Reductions in areas: K-14 education, higher education, local government, social services, transportation, health, employee compensation, criminal justice, and other; also includes increases in revenues/transfers to general fund, and increases in borrowing

2008-09 and 2009-10 Proposition 98 Funding comparisons

Another report, this one from the California Budget Project, Governor Signs Budget Revisions, also offers an analysis of the new budget. It notes that the majority of the Governor’s vetoes cut ($394 million) from health and human services programs, including the Child Welfare Services Program, the Health Family Programs, and the Regional Center services for developmentally disabled children. This publication provides a summary of the key provisions of the budget and the Governor’s line-item vetoes.

State Budget Update: July 2009

Susana Hinojosa — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 22:03:53 +0000

The recent report, State Budget Update: July 2009, by the National Conference of State Legislatures provides an excellent overview of the challenges faced by states trying to balance their budgets. In FY 2009 state lawmakers were required to close budget shortfalls that reached $113.2 billion. FY 2010 budgets face a gap of more than $142.6 billion. Budget negotiations required extension of regular sessions or convening of special sessions. Eight states did not meet their July 1 budget deadlines. As of mid-July when this report was written, six states still had not passed a budget for FY 2010. Credit is also due to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funds (ARRA) that helped some states balance their budgets. The report used information from legislative fiscal directors in June and July 2009 and includes information on budget gaps for all 50 states and Puerto Rico for FY 2009 and 2010. Tables provide information on budget gap number by year; FY 2009 budget gaps by state; and budget gap projections by state for FY 2011 and FY 2012. The report does also state that some of the information provided is preliminary and might change and that ARRA funds distorted many of the numbers.

California IOUs - FAQs

Susana Hinojosa — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:42:30 +0000

Want to know what a Registered Warrant or IOU is? Who gets paid in IOUs beginning July 2nd? California Controller John Chiang has created a Frequently Asked Questions about Registered Warrants (IOUs) website that will be updated regularly.

The Economic Case for Health Care Reform

Susana Hinojosa — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:39:28 +0000

The President’s Council of Economic Advisers just released, June 2, 2009, their report, The Economic Case for Health Care Reform, on the economic impacts of health care reform. This comprehensive analysis provides an analysis of the current economic impacts of health care in the U.S. and also a forecast of the future in the absence of any health care reform. The report includes an analysis of health care inefficiencies and market failures; key components of health care reform; and the economic effects of slowing growth in health care costs.

California Propositions - May 19 Special Election

Susana Hinojosa — Thu, 07 May 2009 20:24:51 +0000

In a series of Budget Briefs, the California Budget Project has analysed the May 19th Special Election Ballot Propositions. Specific Budget Briefs:

What Would Proposition 1A Mean for California’s Future?

Proposition 1C: Should California Authorize the Sale of Lottery Bonds to Close the Budget Gap?

What Would Proposition 1D Mean for California?

What Would Proposition 1E Mean for California?

Finally a summary of the ballot measures:

The May 19 Special Election: What Does It Mean for Health Care?

State Measures to Balance FY 2010 Budgets

Susana Hinojosa — Thu, 07 May 2009 20:00:54 +0000

The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) released on May 4, 2009, State Measures to Balance FY 2010 Budgets, a report that in a series of tables documents the measures (proposed and enacted) that states are taking to close budget gaps. These measures include actions to cut budgets and also generate new revenues. Budget areas or topics include: Criminal Justice, Education, Employee Actions (for example furloughs and layoffs), and Other Actions (purchase freezes, delayed capital projects, agency consolidation, etc.).

Hunger and Homelessness Survey: A Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness in America’s Cities, a 25 City Survey

Susana Hinojosa — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:08:35 +0000

Twenty five mayors, members of the U.S. Conference of Mayor’s Task Force on Hunger and Homelessness provided information on emergency food assistance and other homeless services that their cities provided between October 1, 2007 and September 30, 2008. The data from these 25 cities was published December 2008 as the Hunger and Homelessness Survey; a Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness in America’s Cities, A 25 City Survey. Some of the cities included are: Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. Among the findings: 21 cities reported an increase in the number of persons requesting food assistance with a notable increase among working families; 19 cities (83 %) reported an increase in the number of the homeless; 12 cities (63%) reported an increase in homelessness because of the foreclosure crisis; all but one of the cities had developed or were developing 10-year plans to end homelessness.

New Little Hoover Commission Reports

Susana Hinojosa — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 23:09:18 +0000

The Little Hoover Commission has published three reports of interest since the start of 2009. These are:

A Review of the Governor’s Reorganization Plan to Consolidate Information Technology Functions: Recommendations to the Legislature (March 26, 2009)

Clearer Structure, Cleaner Water: Improving Performance and Outcomes at the State Water Boards (January 2009)

First Year Checkup: Strategies for a Stronger Public Health Department (January 2009).

The Little Hoover Commission is an independent state oversight agency. By statute, the Commission is a bipartisan board composed of five public members appointed by the Governer, four public members appointed by the Legislature, two senators and two assemblymembers. The Commission empanels advisory committees, holds public meetings and visits government operations in action. Its conclusions are submitted to the Governor and the Legislature.

Free Federal Income Tax Preparation Help

Jesse Silva — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 21:35:46 +0000

Did you know that the IRS has a partnership with the Free File Alliance LLC, a group of private sector tax software companies, to allow you to use tax preparation websites like TurboTax or H&R Block to file your federal income taxes for free?

If your adjusted gross income was $56,000 or less in 2008, you can qualify for this service. Details on this service and how to find a participating company can be found here: http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=118986,00.html