California Professional Firefighters

CPF-sponsored legislation, which would make it more difficult for local public entities to file for bankruptcy, has been approved by the Legislature and has been sent to Governor Jerry Brown's desk.

As California closed a gaping budget deficit this year with sweeping cuts to numerous agencies, it saved $34 million by cutting 750 seasonal CAL FIRE firefighters. That means one less person per engine unit to haul thousands of feet of hose lines and share the exhausting physical rigors of battling wildfires.

For only the third time in a quarter century, California got an on-time budget this year. The $86 billion spending plan slashes deeply into every corner of state service, including public safety and public education, all part of bridging a budget gap pegged in January at more than $20 billion.

The California Legislature has approved a state budget that, for the first time in recent memory, will be signed and in effect before the end of the fiscal year. The new spending plan includes a major reform that will mean more dollars for local fire and police services -- the elimination of redevelopment agencies.

Before lawmakers heard legislation Wednesday to slash public pensions, Californians for Retirement Security's Pension Truth Squad visited the State Capitol to share personal stories and set the record straight about the sustained attacks on public workers.

California Professional Firefighters today announced its support for Governor Jerry Brown's call for a special election this June to allow California voters to ratify his plan to close a $26 billion budget shortfall.

The 2011 Daniel A. Terry Legislative Conference will be held April 6-7, 2011 at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Sacramento. CLICK HERE for more details.

A new statewide poll by the respected Public Policy Institute of California indicates strong support for Gov. Brown's redevelopment reform. By a two-to-one margin, Californians support the governor's proposal to close redevelopment agencies, making billions available directly to local governments for core services such as public safety and education.