CA Latino Caucus Joint Statement on 2020-21 State Budget Vote

SACRAMENTO – Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) and Senator María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles), Chair and Vice Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, made the following statements today after Legislature’s vote to approve a 2020-21 State Budget:

“I’m proud of the work the Latino Caucus did to prioritize the lives of all Californians, including undocumented families who have been among the hardest hit during this pandemic. They are taxpayers and our essential workers, yet were shamefully left without any federal aid or safety-net,” Assemblywoman Gonzalez said. “California again leads where the federal government has failed us.”

The budget passed by the Legislature maintains the governor’s January proposal to expand Medi-Cal to all seniors 65 and over, regardless of immigration status, but delays the start date to January 1, 2022. It includes authority for the governor to further delay implementation based on the state’s ability to afford the cost. The Legislature’s budget, which needs approval from the governor, also allow tax filers with Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) with at least one child six years of age or younger to access the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Young Child tax Credit.

“Today the California Legislature passed a budget that is responsible and deals with the reality of an unforeseen global pandemic. This budget preserves funding for programs that make up our state’s safety net. Under different circumstances, we would be expanding programs and instituting new ones,” added Senator Durazo. “I am happy that the Latino Legislative Caucus priorities were adopted. Although times have changed, our values have not.”

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Media Contacts:

For Assemblywoman Gonzalez: Sami Gallegos / Samantha.Gallegos@asm.ca.gov 

For Senator Durazo: Fredy Ceja / Fredy.Ceja@sen.ca.gov