State Sen. Leland Yee: Budget cuts not the answer

California is in a state of fiscal crisis, but I believe we can find solutions that do not hinge on cutting vital services for San Francisco's youth, seniors and working poor.

Gov. Jerry Brown introduced a budget proposal last month that would close a $25.6 billion gap by slashing billions from the University of California, Medi-Cal and economic redevelopment programs. While I applaud Brown's protection of funding for K-12 education, the proposed cuts would deny thousands more students from our public universities, force San Francisco's poorest residents on Medi-Cal to make potentially life-threatening choices, and put critical San Francisco construction and affordable housing projects in jeopardy.

There's no doubt drastic steps must be taken to pull California out of the red. There will be no easy answers, and I am fully committed to working with Brown to balance our budget and build back our fiscal solvency.

But, I do not believe we should resort to critical cuts without first exploring all untapped revenue streams.

This year, I plan to reintroduce corporate tax accountability legislation that could provide billions of dollars for critical social services and education.

Each year, we provide more than $14 billion in corporate tax credits. These credits are given to companies whose executives promise to create jobs and fuel economic development. Yet, under existing law, it is nearly impossible to track which companies receive credits and whether those subsidies are meeting job creation goals. Companies are even permitted to take taxpayer money and relocate to other states.

Last year, I authored SB 1391, which would have allowed the state to recoup job creation tax credits if the corporation instead decreased jobs or moved out of state. The bill gained widespread support, but after heavy lobbying by big business and banking interests, the bill failed by one vote on the final day of the session.

As I reintroduce this bill, I find it unconscionable that some lawmakers were willing to make devastating cuts when we have the option to recoup billions from companies that fail to make good on their promises.

I also believe it's time to support oil severance tax legislation, long overdue in California. We are the only oil-producing state missing out on hundreds of millions of dollars each year because we do not tax oil that is owned, leased or extracted from our private land. States, including Texas, Mississippi, West Virginia and Florida, all levy severance oil taxes ranging from 2 percent to 15 percent.

So, before we resort to cutting critical services, let's end tax credits for corporations that abandon California, implement an oil severance tax like all other states, and ensure the wealthy pay their fair share.

Double Fine Zones Saving Lives

It took more than four years to install a double fine zone on 19th Avenue, but the long wait seems to have been worth it. One of the city's busiest corridors connecting San Mateo and Marin counties has not seen a single pedestrian fatality since the law went into effect two years ago.

By comparison, 10 pedestrians died along 19th Avenue from 2003 to 2007.

In 2008, we unveiled signs designating the corridor a double fine zone, meaning drivers would face doubled fines for speeding and other traffic violations.

I believe the double fine zone was the missing piece to the puzzle, and I hope it will continue to put an end to the loss of innocent life.

California Sen. Leland Yee represents the Richmond and Sunset districts.

Dedicated to Clean Water

I have heard growing concerns from Westside residents about the future of our water supply.

In recent months, the Public Utilities Commission has held numerous public hearings - as part of the San Francisco Local Ground Water Project - to discuss alternate ways to meet the Westside's drinking water and irrigation needs. As California faces ongoing threats of water shortages, the PUC is looking at various options to conserve, including the use of recycled water to irrigate Golden Gate Park and groundwater to supplement the Hetch Hetchy reservoir water consumed by residents in the Richmond and Sunset.

While water shortages are a reality statewide, I have worked - and will continue to work - diligently to ensure that my constituents continue to receive the best water supply in California. Last year, I was one of the most vocal critics of a costly water deal struck by lawmakers to revamp the state's water infrastructure and divert our precious supply to water-starved regions in Southern California.

My opposition to the $12 billion water bond - which threatened our water rights and was ultimately a bad deal for San Francisco - earned me a perfect score (100 percent) on the Clean Water Action scorecard for the 2009-2010 Session.

The water bond was ultimately defeated last year. This year, I will continue to oppose any legislation that would jeopardize our state's environment or threaten San Francisco's longstanding rights to clean water.