FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 16, 2025
STATEMENT
Parent Voices Urges Lawmakers to Reject Budget Cuts and Prioritize California’s Children After State Budget Release
SACRAMENTO, CA — Following the release of Governor Newsom’s 2025-26 revised budget proposal, Parent Voices, a parent-led grassroots organization in California, responded with the following statement from its Executive Director, Mary Ignatius:
“On May 14th, 400 families rallied at the State Capitol on Stand for Children Day to ensure lawmakers understood what was at stake as Governor Newsom unveiled his revised state budget. The budget fails to meet the moment, falling short of the urgent needs of children and families, who continue to face unprecedented challenges under a dangerous federal administration.”
“Instead of choosing kids, the Governor proposes to:
- Pause expansion of 77,000 promised child care spaces
- Pause implementation of a true cost-of-care payment model promised to early educators
- Pause expansion of life-saving health care access for all Californians.”
“Real superheroes choose kids, not billionaires.”
“We demand a final budget that firmly rejects these proposed pauses. Instead of halting essential investments in children and families, it’s time to reconsider the billions in unchecked tax breaks granted annually to the wealthy and corporate giants. In these uncertain times, California lawmakers can shift those funds to child care, health care, housing, and a strong safety net.”
“The state budget is a reflection of our values. How does Governor Newsom reckon with having the 4th-largest economy in the world and one of the highest child poverty rates in the country? We must shore up our funding in defense of those with the least, not the most. We must be the resistance to the anti-DEI, anti-immigrant, anti-democratic assault on our nation’s children.”
“The math is simple. Pause tax breaks on corporate giants. We are calling on our elected leaders to choose kids, not billionaires!”
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Parent Voices is a parent-led grassroots organization fighting to make quality child care accessible and affordable for all families. There are local chapters across nine counties in California, including Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Marin, Oakland, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Clara, and Sonoma.
For media inquiries contact: info@parentvoices.org