"We’re seeing major cuts to Medi-Cal, so that means less money for the state to spend than it generally receives from the federal government to support these federal programs like Medi-Cal and Cal Fresh," says @nishinair.bsky.social. www.sacbee.com/news/politic...

President Trump’s signature domestic policy law could make it harder for states to fund programs to help people find stable housing. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/17/u...

The poverty rate in California and in other states had dropped in 2021, as local and federal lawmakers expanded public benefits during the pandemic. But poverty rates have risen as such policies have been rolled back. Bottom line: Poverty is a policy choice. www.latimes.com/business/sto...

Inflation climbs in August as grocery and gas prices jump www.npr.org/2025/09/11/n...

Updated data on "donor state" California: federal COVID spending and drops in wealthier filers' taxable income affect 2023 data. open.substack.com/pub/jasonsis... Thanks to @shg29.bsky.social & @nishinair.bsky.social of @calbudgetcenter.org and @rockefellerinst.bsky.social for helpful insights.

Why is California Typically a Donor State? As the Budget Center fact sheet notes, California—like some other blue states with progressive state income tax structures—typically contributes more to the federal treasury than the state gets back in federal funding. Via @jasonsisney.bsky.social.

What Does the California State Budget Fund? https://calbudgetcenter.org/resources/what-does-the-california-state-budget-fund/

California’s poverty rate is one of the highest in the nation, with about 7 million people unable to afford basic needs. Harmful federal budget cuts risk pushing even more families into hardship. Poverty is a policy choice. ⚡ We share more: calbudgetcenter.org/resources/ca...

Trump and congressional Republicans will ultimately bear responsibility for the harm caused by their massive spending cuts, detention and deportation agenda, and inequitable tax policies. calbudgetcenter.org/resources/h-...

"Whether California chooses to blunt the damage from federal rollbacks — or allow poverty to deepen — may define its future as a place of opportunity or of widening inequality, the budget center’s researchers warned." https://www.sacbee.com/news/equity-lab/article312043954.html

NEW: California’s poverty rate, at 17.7%, continued to be the highest (alongside Louisiana) in the United States in 2024, with no tangible improvement from 2023. calbudgetcenter.org/resources/ca...

Happy 175th, California 🎉 Hollywood, Silicon Valley, Coachella, tacos, beaches… and the nation’s highest poverty rate. For California to be a place where everyone thrives, state leaders must take bold action to curb poverty and chart a new vision forward. calbudgetcenter.org/resources/ca...

A new report co-authored by California Budget & Policy Center and California Immigrant Policy Center details how cuts to health care, food, housing and more put Latinx and immigrant Californians at risk. Read the full report here: bit.ly/3VEoQrj

NEW: Federal and State Budget Cuts Threaten Latinx Californians ⚡ Our latest report breaks down what's at stake and what state leaders can do. https://calbudgetcenter.org/resources/how-federal-and-state-budget-cuts-threaten-latinx-californians/

Alphabet and Apple together hold nearly $10B in state R&D tax credits. That stockpile means they can offset future taxes, even if rates go up. A common-sense solution: Cap excessive credits so big corporations pay their fair share.

America’s economy runs on data. What Trump’s firing of a top data chief means for California. “If you pull out federal data, we’re left with how people are feeling about things and the stock market, and that’s a big void," says @chrishoene.bsky.social. calmatters.org/economy/2025...

H.R. 1 = a huge wealth transfer from working families to the ultra-rich. What pays for it? Cuts to health care, food assistance, and supports for vulnerable Californians. thehill.com/business/546...

The Assembly Appropriations Committee will soon convene to take up hundreds of bills on their "suspense file." The Senate Appropriations Committee also votes on their suspense file bills today. #CALeg Need a refresher on the "suspense" file? Here it is: calbudgetcenter.org/resources/ho...

Did you know? Nearly half of profitable corporations in California paid only the $800 minimum tax in 2023. Profitable corporations shouldn't be able to wipe their entire tax burden. State leaders can require fair share taxes by placing annual caps on credits and deductions.

Profitable Corporations Can’t Keep Paying Zero in California State Taxes Annual limits on business tax credits and deductions would help generate revenues to mitigate the harm of massive federal budget cuts that hurt vulnerable Californians. calbudgetcenter.org/resources/pr...

One measure (ACA 8) included in the congressional redistricting package passed by the #CALeg yesterday did NOT go to @governor.ca.gov for approval. Why not? Constitutional amendments go straight to the voters! Find out more in this @calbudgetcenter.org resource: calbudgetcenter.org/resources/re...

Profitable Corporations Can’t Keep Paying Zero in California State Taxes Annual limits on business tax credits and deductions would help generate revenues to mitigate the harm of massive federal budget cuts that hurt vulnerable Californians. calbudgetcenter.org/resources/pr...

State vs. Federal Funding: Who Pays for What in California? calbudgetcenter.org/resources/st...

New from our Budget Academy: Understanding Special Sessions in California, by @shg29.bsky.social. Why they’re called, how they work, and their impact on state policy.

“Confronting the harm of Trump’s agenda requires bolder state action… and addressing the harm to California’s communities can’t wait.” What should state leaders do next? Our team breaks it all down: calbudgetcenter.org/resources/st...

The health care marketplace has helped small businesses, Black and Latino communities, low-income families, and self-employed people obtain affordable coverage. Without Congressional action, millions could lose coverage or face steep premium hikes. www.cbpp.org/blog/marketp...

Useful information about how the Republicans’ federal bill and recent state actions affect key programs that benefit Californians. The big projected #CABudget deficit - and the expiry of high income state taxes in 2030 - limit substantially how much the state can sustainably backfill federal cuts.

How does CA’s 2025–26 budget shape our future? 🌼 Join us on AUG 7 for insights from @calbudgetcenter.org on how fiscal choices affect education, health, childcare & immigrant programs – and what it all means for our communities. Register here: business.calnonprofits.org/ap/Events/Re...

In a fair tax system, everyone pays their fair share, no one pays more than they can afford, and the government raises enough money to fund public goods that benefit us all, like education, housing, transportation, and health care. www.demos.org/policy-brief...

Medicaid turns 60! 🎊 For six decades, Medicaid has been a lifeline for millions. Learn more about its history, legacy of care, and what's ahead from @chcfnews.bsky.social. www.chcf.org/resource/60-...

The federal budget will deeply harm Californians — cutting essential services while giving tax breaks to the wealthy. California’s state leaders must take bold action to protect people and invest in our future. ⚡ Our team breaks down what’s at stake: calbudgetcenter.org/resources/st...

#CABudget Update: The state budget is never final once the governor signs it. The Legislature revises the budget after it’s approved in June — especially when new federal legislation or changing economic conditions demand quick action. 🧵 Here’s why it matters right now.

"We really need state leaders to take bold action to equitably raise revenues to help mitigate the impact of these federal funding cuts to our state and Medi-Cal specifically," says @adri-ramyam.bsky.social. ⚡ Read more: www.kqed.org/news/1204764...

"President Trump’s nearly 1,000-page reconciliation bill strips away health care, food assistance, and other basic supports from millions of Americans, including Californians across every congressional district in the state." ⚡ Read our full statement: calbudgetcenter.org/news/budget-...

Destabilizing rural hospitals is exactly the kind of devastating #Medicaid cut that CA GOP Reps. Young Kim & David Valadao said that they "cannot support." Will they keep their word when the Senate's reverse-Robin-Hood budget bill comes to the House floor? valadao.house.gov/uploadedfile...

Deep cuts to health care, nutrition, and other basic needs would hit families and older adults in Rep. Kim’s district hard, making it harder to afford food, stay housed, and get care. A vote for this bill is a vote to increase poverty and hardship. calbudgetcenter.org/resources/re...

GOP-led budget cuts would gut Medi-Cal, putting hospitals in Rep. Valadao’s district at risk. With 67% of residents relying on the program, local providers would face deep funding cuts, jeopardizing care for families with low incomes, kids, and seniors. calbudgetcenter.org/resources/re...

This agenda directs harm on the very people the President and many Republicans say they are trying to help.

The Senate’s budget vote is a roadmap of misplaced priorities: - Cuts health care for vulnerable families - Pulls food away from kids - Boosts funding for immigration detention - Increases premiums in the health marketplace - Delivers tax breaks to the wealthy Californians deserve better.

The Senate bill would rip health care from millions of Californians. It slashes Medi-Cal, imposes cruel red tape, and threatens coverage for workers, kids, people with disabilities, and rural communities. This isn’t reform. It’s intentional harm. calbudgetcenter.org/news/senate-...

Our own @mauriciotorresjr.bsky.social was named one of Capitol Weekly's Rising Stars! 🤩 "Whether he’s deciphering policy language or hiking renowned trails... Torres approaches it all with confidence, curiosity and a deep connection to the communities he serves." capitolweekly.net/rising-stars...

#CABudget Update: A lot of budget action is expected over the next several days. #CALeg ✅ 6/25: Assembly & Senate budget hearings ✅ 6/27 & 30: Assembly & Senate floor votes on 2025-26 budget package ✅ Late June & early July: Governor signs bills into law

As Congress debates the federal budget, the Senate’s proposal makes one thing clear: millions of people will lose so that the wealthiest few can gain. ⚡ We share more in our latest commentary: calbudgetcenter.org/news/senate-...

#CABudget Update: #CALeg sent their version of the 2025 Budget Act (SB 101) to the governor yesterday — he has 12 days to sign it. The Leg will aim to pass the rest of the budget package by June 27 so that the full budget deal is ready to sign by the end of the 12-day window.

Our site was briefly down earlier today due to an issue with our hosting provider. Everything’s back up now — thanks for your patience, and happy reading! calbudgetcenter.org

In California, $30 can buy this basket of groceries. For low-income undocumented adults, that same $30 could become the monthly cost of staying enrolled in Medi-Cal. #Health4All #CABudget #CALeg

Policymakers should consider policies that effectively support and promote work instead of harsh, red-tape-laden work requirements that will substantially increase hardship while doing little to nothing to increase employment. www.cbpp.org/research/inc...

“State leaders don’t have to wait to see what federal leaders do next to say: ‘Hey, we think we should make the tax system more fair,’” says our executive director, @chrishoene.bsky.social. www.sacbee.com/news/politic...

"While the Legislature’s joint budget plan rejects or delays many of the governor’s harmful proposals and restores funding for housing and homelessness programs, it ultimately does not go far enough." ⚡ Read our full statement: calbudgetcenter.org/news/stateme...