AB 192 Puts Law Enforcement First

by Assemblyman Dan Logue
 
When times are hard, it becomes more important than ever that government prioritize its spending, and shift the funds to where they are needed most. One of California’s biggest problems has been our state government’s inability to cut wasteful spending and protect our highest budget priorities. In my opinion, and many of yours, there can be no higher priority than our public safety – protecting the public is the main reason government exists.
 
Taxpayers already pay enough for these services, and we should not have to raise taxes to keep the public safe. Law enforcement should be one of the first things funded in the state budget. But law enforcement officials have spent the last few years being forced to do more with less, and it’s getting hard to keep up. Life gets more dangerous for them as their funding declines. It gets more dangerous for our families as well. What has become clear over the last few years and should be of serious concern to all of us is that law enforcement is not considered a priority by the majority of our State Legislature.
 
Public safety is often paid for after everything else. Education, MediCal, even welfare and other public assistance comes first. Our own Governor Jerry Brown wants to extend keeping law enforcement funded through Vehicle License Fees for five more years. That means less money when VLF revenues go down – a concern expressed by law enforcement agencies across the state.
 
That’s not right, and it’s time for a change.
 
I have authored a bill, AB 192, that would make law enforcement funding a top priority without raising taxes. AB 192 is co-authored by 22 other legislators, and would shift $500 million from the General Fund to the Local Safety and Protection Account. This account helps fund local law enforcement in their fight against illegal drugs, gang activities, sexual assaults, and technology theft. It helps county sheriffs, juvenile justice, and probation programs as well. It is crucial spending for our rural communities that should be a top priority.
 
Police officers shouldn’t have to beg for funding. They also shouldn’t be pitted against the taxpayers with “either/or” scenarios like heavy VLF fees. The taxpayers deserve to have their lives and property protected out of the taxes they already pay. Our officers deserve to have their basic duties paid for off the top, not the bottom, of the state budget.
 
Let’s at least put law enforcement funding ahead of welfare, and show our officers that we truly honor and appreciate their service.
 
AB 192 is a start in the right direction towards better funding priorities in our state government. Please join me in this fight. Pick up your phone and call your legislator today. Tell them you support law enforcement, and tell them to vote yes on AB 192.
 
Assemblyman Dan Logue, R-Linda, represents the 3rd Assembly District in the California Legislature. He is vice-chair of the Assembly Committee on Health, and Chairman of the Assembly Republican Task Force on Jobs and the Economy.