SACRAMENTO – Today, Assembly Budget Committee Vice Chair Jay Obernolte (R-Hesperia) responds to the passage of California’s 2020-21 State Budget.  “I am elated that the final budget rejects the proposed closure of the Barstow Veterans Home.  We’ve won the first battle to save this critical facility, but we must continue fighting the war,” said Assemblyman Obernolte.  The final negotiated budget between the Governor and legislative leaders includes most of the language added by Assemblyman Obernolte to protect the Barstow Veterans Home that was passed as part of last week’s legislative…

SACRAMENTO – Today, Assembly Budget Committee Vice Chair Jay Obernolte (R-Hesperia) issued the following statement on the passage of California’s 2020-21 State Budget:  “In this budget, the Legislature closes a $54 billion deficit using a combination of budget deferrals, billions in borrowing, a $4.4 billion tax increase on businesses, and depletion of most of our reserves. While we were able to protect vital services this year, unfortunately these budget gimmicks merely defer difficult decisions about reducing state spending and will only create larger budget deficits in the future.” “…

SACRAMENTO – Today, Assemblyman Obernolte (R-Hesperia) issued the following statement on Governor Newsom’s May Revision budget proposal calling for the closure of the Barstow Veterans Home. “I am extremely disappointed that Governor Newsom is proposing to close our veteran home in Barstow due to the State’s budget deficit. It’s unconscionable to balance the budget on the backs of our veterans and even worse to displace the 200 residents who currently call this home – some who have lived here ever since it opened.” “As the Vice Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee and a member of the Joint…

SACRAMENTO – Today, Assembly Budget Committee Vice Chair Jay Obernolte (R-Hesperia) issued the following statement in response to the release of Governor Gavin Newsom’s “May Revise” budget proposal:  “Our state is facing an unprecedented budget shortfall due to the dire economic fallout from the coronavirus. Throughout this crisis we’ve asked Californians to make do with less, and now, with a projected $54 billion deficit, we must as well. I look forward to working with the Governor and Legislature this year to make targeted adjustments while ensuring that our most vulnerable populations and…

SACRAMENTO – Today, Assembly Budget Committee Vice Chair Jay Obernolte (R-Hesperia) issued the following statement in response to the passage of two emergency budget bills to mitigate the effects of COVID-19:   “Today we passed two critically important funding bills in response to the spread of the Coronavirus. AB/SB 117 will provide critical funding to our public school system to ensure it is held harmless as many school districts throughout the state have had to shut down. It will also give schools the money they need to deep clean their facilities. AB/SB 89 provides an immediate $500…

HESPERIA – Assemblyman Jay Obernolte (R-Hesperia) honored Make Your Business Grow as the Outstanding Small Business of the Month. Angela Sorrel started Make Your Business Grow, an online company that serves businesses throughout the High Desert, in March of 2016. It specializes in social media marketing that includes logo and website design to ensure that a business’s brand is consistent throughout its online presence. Angela also provides graphic design and printing for small businesses. Angela has been highly involved in chambers of commerce throughout the High Desert. Aside from her…

SACRAMENTO – Assemblyman Obernolte (R-Hesperia) announced today that he has received the Rural Leadership Award from the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) at their annual reception held in Sacramento. “It’s a tremendous honor to be recognized by RCRC for my work on behalf of rural communities,” said Assemblyman Obernolte.  “Far too often, big cities are the sole focus of what we do here in Sacramento.  As a Member who represents a rural district, I know that we have our own set of unique challenges that are just as important as those in urban regions. That is why I’ve fought…

SACRAMENTO – Today, Assembly Budget Committee Vice Chair Jay Obernolte (R-Hesperia) issued the following statement in response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s budget proposal for the 2020-21 fiscal year: “I am pleased with the Governor’s decision to continue building our budget reserves, but we must be wary of committing to more ongoing spending and do more to prepare for an economic slowdown. The more we increase state spending today, the more tough decisions and program cuts for critical services we will have to make in the future -- ultimately hurting the very Californians we are trying to…