EXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL
Unemployment Down to 5.2%: The unemployment rate in California has declined from 9.7% to 5.2% since 1993. In contrast, unemployment went up 94% under the previous administration. 1,840,900 New Jobs: 1,840,900 new jobs have been created in California since 1993 -- an average of 290,688 jobs per year. In contrast, an average of 11,350 jobs were lost each year during the previous administration. 1,705,200 New Private Sector Jobs: Since 1993, 1,705,200 new private sector jobs have been created in California-an average of 269,242 jobs per year, compared to an average loss of 38,600 private sector jobs per year in the previous administration. 100,600 New Manufacturing Jobs: 100,600 manufacturing jobs have been created in California since 1993 -- an average of 15,884 jobs per year. In contrast, an average of 66,475 manufacturing jobs were lost each year during the previous administration. 211,200 New Construction Jobs: 211,200 construction jobs have been created in California since 1993 -- an average of 33,347 jobs per year. In contrast, an average of 28,025 construction jobs were lost each year during the previous administration. Poverty Has Fallen: In California, the poverty rate has fallen from 18.2% in 1993 to 16.6% in 1997-down 1.6% under President Clinton. [Census Bureau] Business Failures Down 2.1% Per Year: Business failures in California have decreased an average of 2.1% per year since 1993, after increasing 21.8% per year during the previous 12 years [Oct. 98 data]. 1.2 Million Have Received a Raise: 999,000 California workers benefited from an increase in the minimum wage-from $4.25 to $4.75 -- on October 1, 1996. They, along with 200,000 more, received an additional raise-from $4.75 to $5.15 -- on September 1, 1997. Home Building Up 4.5%: Home building in California has increased by an average of 4.5% per year since 1993, after falling over 21.2% per year during the previous administration. A $500 Child Tax Credit to Help Families Raising Children: To help make it easier for families to raise their children, the balanced budget included a $500 per-child tax credit for children under 17. Thanks to President Clinton, the balanced budget delivers a child tax credit to 3,229,000 families in California. Over $25,000 of Reduced Federal Debt for Every Family of Four: The national debt will be $1.7 trillion lower in FY99 than projected in 1993 -- that's $25,000 less debt for each family of four in California this year. 4.7% Growth in Total Bank Loans and Leases: California has seen a 4.7% average annual growth rate in total bank loans and leases per year since 1993. In contrast total bank loans and leases fell an annual average of over 1.5% during the previous administration. 9.0% Growth in Commercial and Industrial Loans and Leases: Since 1993, California has experienced a 9.0% average annual growth rate in commercial and industrial loans and leases. In contrast, commercial and industrial loans and leases fell over an annual average of 7.8% during the previous administration. EXPANDING ACCESS TO EDUCATION
Over 86,000 Children in Head Start: Over 86,000 California children were enrolled in Head Start in 1998. In FY99, California will receive $555.7 million in Head Start funding, an increase of $250.5 million over 1993. More High-Quality Teachers With Smaller Classes for California's Schools: Thanks to President Clinton, the final FY99 budget provides for the first year of the President's new initiative to hire 100,000 new, well-prepared teachers, to reduce class sizes in the early grades to a national average of 18. California will receives $129 million in 1999 to hire about 3,332 new public school teachers. And, under President Clinton's proposal, California would receive $158 million in FY2000 to support a total of 4,386 teachers. $52.7 Million in Goals 2000 Funding: This year [FY99], California receives $52.7 million in Goals 2000 funding. This money is used to raise academic achievement by raising academic standards, increasing parental and community involvement in education, expanding the use of computers and technology in classrooms, and supporting high-quality teacher professional development. $46 Million for Technology Literacy: This year [FY99], California receives $46 million --more than doubling its funding over FY97 -- for the Technology Literacy Challenge Fund which helps communities and the private sector ensure that every student is equipped with the computer literacy skills needed for the 21st century. Nearly $892 Million for Students Most in Need: California receives $892 million in Title I Grants (to Local Educational Agencies) providing extra help in the basics for students most in need, particularly communities and schools with high concentrations of children in low-income families [FY99]. This is an increase of $61.2 million over FY98 funding. $953.1 Million in Pell Grants: This year [FY99] California will receive $953.1 million in Pell Grants for low-income students going to college, an additional $44.4 million over last year. With this increase, a total of 459,700 California students will benefit. Expanded Work-Study To Help More Students Work Their Way Through College: The FY99 budget includes a significant expansion of the Federal Work Study program. California will receive $87 million in Work-Study funding in 1999 to help California students work their way through college. Over 11,400 Have Served in California through AmeriCorps: Since the National Service program began in 1993, 11,472 AmeriCorps participants have earned money for college while working in California's schools, hospitals, neighborhoods or parks. [through 11/98] Tuition Tax Credits in Balanced Budget Open the Doors of College and Promote Lifelong Learning: The balanced budget included both President Clinton's $1,500 HOPE Scholarship to help make the first two years of college as universal as a high school diploma and a Lifetime Learning Tax Credit for college juniors, seniors, graduate students and working Americans pursuing lifelong learning to upgrade their skills. This 20% tax credit will be applied to the first $5,000 of tuition and fees through 2002 and to the first $10,000 thereafter. 931,000 students in California will receive a HOPE Scholarship tax credit of up to $1,500. 1,142,000 students in California will receive the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit. [fully phased-in FY2000 estimate] Expanded Job Training to California's Dislocated Workers: Thanks to President Clinton, the FY99 budget includes a significant expansion in the dislocated worker program. California will receive $237.8 million in 1999 to help 140,830 of California's dislocated workers get the training and reemployment services they need to return to work as quickly as possible. FIGHTING CRIME AND VIOLENCE
Crime Falls 24% in California: Since 1992, serious crime in California has fallen 24%. Violent crime and property crime have also declined 25% and 24% respectively. Crime Has Dropped Sharply in Major Cities: In California's cities, between 1992 and 1997, serious crime, as indicated by the crime index, has declined 38% in Long Beach, 40% in Los Angeles, 21% in Oakland, 36% in San Diego, and 32% in San Francisco. Notably, murder has dropped 46% in Long Beach, 47% in Los Angeles, 40% in Oakland, 54% in San Diego and 50% in San Francisco. [1992 and 1997 Uniform Crime Reports] Juvenile Arrests Down in California: California's juvenile arrests have decreased 14% between 1992 and 1997, (as measured by the crime index), with California's juvenile murder arrests dropping 45%. [FBI, Uniform Crime Report, 1992 and 1997] 13,795 More Police: The President's 1994 Crime Bill has funded 13,795 new police officers in communities across California. [through 7/99] Fresno and San Bernardino Will Receive Targeted Funding to Hire More Community Police: Fresno and San Bernardino were selected as pilot cities for the President's new effort to target high crime neighborhoods. The pilot program will provide full funding for new officers by waiving the usual matching requirements. Fresno and San Bernardino will deploy new officers to help meet the unique needs of their communities, such as combating gangs or targeting drug "hot spots." Reducing Crime with Drug Courts: Working to reduce drug-related crime in California, the Clinton Administration has awarded Drug Court grants to the communities of Chula Vista, El Cajon, Fairfield, Richmond, Martinez, San Diego, San Francisco, Tulare, Ukiah and Vista. The Administration had previously awarded grants to a number of California communities including: Auburn, Bakersfield, Butte County, El Monte, Rio Hondo, Fresno, Modesto, Stockton, Pasadena, Redwood, Riverside, San Jose, Santa Ana, Santa Barbara, Santa Rosa, Santa Monica, San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, Compton, Hanford, Indio, Los Angeles, Merced, Napa, Orange, San Francisco, Sacramento and San Bernardino. Drug courts use the coercive power of the criminal justice system to combine drug testing, sanctions, supervision and treatment to push nonviolent, drug-abusing offenders to stop using drugs and committing crimes. Over $19 Million to Combat Domestic Violence: Through the Violence Against Women Act, California received $19.3 million in federal funds in FY98 to establish more women's shelters and bolster law enforcement, prosecution, and victims' services. $6,810,844 in Grants for Battered Women and Children: In FY98, California received $6,810,844 in HHS's Family Violence Prevention Program grants to assist women and children fleeing domestic abuse, an additional $1.2 million increase over FY97. $49.5 Million to Keep Drugs & Violence Out of California's Schools: California receives $49.5 million in FY99 for the Safe & Drug Free Schools Program, which invests in school security and drug prevention programs. MOVING CALIFORNIANS FROM WELFARE TO WORK
564,223 Fewer on Welfare: There are currently 564,223 fewer people on welfare than there were in the beginning of 1993-- a 23% decrease. [through 12/98] Child Support Collections Up 115%: Child support collections have increased by over $752 million-or 115% -- in California since FY92. [through FY98] Encouraging Responsible Choices-Preventing Teen Pregnancy in California: Since 1993, President Clinton and Vice President Gore have supported innovative and promising teen pregnancy prevention strategies, with significant components of the strategy becoming law in the 1996 Personal Responsibility Act. The law requires unmarried minor parents to stay in school and live at home or in a supervised setting; encourages "second chance homes" to provide teen parents with the skills and support they need; and provides $50 million a year in new funding for state abstinence education activities. Efforts are making a difference, adolescent pregnancy rates and teen abortion rates are declining. And between 1992 and 1997, teen birth rates declined 23% in California. $612.8 Million for California Welfare-to-Work: In 1998 and 1999, California received $367.6 million in Federal welfare-to-work state formula grants (the state matched $183.6 million in funding), helping California welfare recipients get and keep jobs. In addition, $60.6 million in competitive grants were awarded to California localities to support innovative welfare-to-work strategies and Native American tribes in California received $995,000 in Federal funding. Part of the President's comprehensive efforts to move recipients from welfare to work, this funding was included in the $3 billion welfare to work fund in the 1997 Balanced Budget Act. Helping People Get to Work: Through the Access to Jobs initiative, the Clinton-Gore Administration is working with communities across the country to design transportation solutions to help welfare recipients and other low-income workers get to and from work. Bakersfield, County of Del Norte, Davis, Los Angeles, Marysville, Oakland, Orange County, Sacramento, San Andreas, Santa Clara County, San Luis Obispo, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Thousand Palms, Ukiah, Visalia, and Woodland have received a total of $4 million this year to fund innovative transit projects. INVESTING IN CALIFORNIA'S HEALTH
Health Care for Uninsured Children: The balanced budget included the largest single investment in health care for children since the passage of Medicaid in 1965 -- an unprecedented $24 billion over five years to cover as many as five million children throughout the nation. This investment guarantees the full range of benefits-from checkups to surgery -- that children need to grow up strong and healthy. It ensures that prescription drugs, vision, hearing, and mental health coverage now offered at the state level are extended to millions of uninsured children. To expand health coverage to more than 1.2 million uninsured children in California the balanced budget provided $855 million in 1998. This compares to the 1995 Republican plan vetoed by President Clinton that would have denied health care coverage to 356,600 children in California. Helping 1.2 Million California Women and Children with WIC: The Clinton Administration is committed to full funding in the Special Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). In FY98, California received $688.6 million in total WIC grant funding, helping 1.2 million women, infants and children in need receive health and food assistance, 375,000 more than in 1994. More Toddlers Are Being Immunized: As a result of the President's 1993 Childhood Immunization Initiative, childhood immunization rates have reached an historic high. According to the CDC, by 1996, 90% or more of America's toddlers received the most critical doses of each of the routinely recommended vaccines-surpassing the President's 1993 goal. In California in 1997, 94% of two-year olds received the vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis; 90% received the vaccine for polio; 89% received the vaccine for measles, and 91% received the vaccine for Haemophilus influenzae B, the bacteria causing a form of meningitis. Increased Funding for Ryan White by $790.3 Million: Between 1993 and 1998, California communities received $790.3 million in Ryan White formula and other HIV/AIDS program funds. This funding provides people living with HIV and AIDS medical and support services, including the AIDS Drug Assistance Program which helps those without insurance obtain much needed prescription drugs. [HHS, Health Resources and Services Administration, 12/98] Tobacco Plan Will Cut Smoking and Premature Deaths by 47% in California: The Clinton Administration's tobacco proposal, combined with the recently enacted state tobacco settlements, will cut youth smoking and resulting premature deaths 47% in California by 2004. Between 2000 and 2004, 317,200 of California's youth will be kept from smoking and 101,500 will be spared a premature tobacco-related death. [Treasury Dept., 2/99] 13,090,000 Americans in California Cannot Be Assured They Have Patient Protections: Even if California enacted all the protections in the Patients' Bill of Rights, 13,090,000 people in California cannot be assured they have the comprehensive patient protections recommended by the President's Advisory Commission. This is because the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) may preempt state-enacted protections. That is why the President has called on Congress to pass a federally enforceable patients' bill of rights so that everyone enrolled in managed care may have a basic set of protections. Notably, 6,230,000 California women are in ERISA health plans and are therefore not necessarily protected. Women are particularly vulnerable without these protections because they are greater users of health care services, they make three-quarters of the health care decisions for their families, and they have specific health care needs addressed by a patients' bill of rights. PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
18 Toxic Waste Sites Cleaned Up: Since 1993, the EPA has completed 18 Superfund toxic waste cleanups in California. The sites were located in Sunnyvale (3), Santa Clara (2), Porterville, Coalinga, Palo Alto, Richmond, Oroville (2), Cloverdale, Fillmore, Fullerton, Riverbank, San Jose (2) and Scotts Valley [through 6/99]. In contrast, only 14 sites were cleaned up in the previous 12 years combined. $86.5 Million in Safe Drinking Water Funding: This year [FY99], thanks to President Clinton, California will receive $80.8 million for the Drinking Water State Revolving Funds to provide low-interest loans to municipalities to build, improve, and prevent pollution of drinking water systems. In addition, California will receive $5.6 million in Public Water Supply Supervision grants to help monitor drinking water quality and enforce health standards. Revitalizing Brownfields in California: As part of the Clinton-Gore Administration's efforts to clean up Brownfields, the EPA has awarded grants to counties and communities in California-East Palo Alto, Emeryville, Oakland, Pomona, Richmond, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, Colton, Long Beach, Montebello, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, Stockton, Hoopa Valley Tribe, Santa Barbara County and Alameda County-for environmental clean-up and economic revitalization. In addition, the State of California Trade and Commerce Agency, which will target six sites for redevelopment, will benefit from a Brownfields grant. These projects are intended to jump-start local clean-up efforts by providing funds to return unproductive, abandoned, contaminated urban properties to productive use. SPEARHEADING URBAN RENEWAL EFFORTS
Revitalizing California's Communities: In 1994, Los Angeles/ Huntington Park, Oakland, Imperial County, San Diego, San Francisco, and Watsonville were all designated Enterprise Communities in December, 1994 and were each awarded $3 million to create more jobs, housing, and economic opportunity for city residents. Los Angeles was designated a Supplemental Empowerment Zone and was awarded $125 million for similar job creation efforts. In 1999, Santa Ana was designated a New Urban Empowerment Zone, Riverside County was named a New Rural Empowerment Zone, and Orange Cove was named a Rural Enterprise Community. Expanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Will Help Develop 12,700 To 15,200 New Affordable Housing Units in California Over the Next 5 Years: Last year, the President and Vice President pushed for a 40-percent expansion in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. This year, the President and Vice President will try again to enact tax incentives to develop affordable housing. In California alone, this proposal would mean an additional 12,700 - 15,200 quality rental housing units for low-income American families during the next five years. PROVIDING DISASTER RELIEF
$7.5 Billion in Federal Emergency Assistance: Since 1993, California has received $7.5 billion in disaster relief. This includes $148 million in aid to victims of severe winter storms and flooding in 1998, and $5.7 billion in assistance to recover from the Northridge Earthquake, which occurred in January of 1994. [FEMA, 12/98] EXPANDING FUNDS FOR TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT
Over $11 Billion in Federal Highway Aid: Since 1993, California has received over $11 billion in federal highway aid. Included in this funding is $1.5 billion for emergency relief in response to natural disasters. These funds have helped generate 482,021 jobs. [through FY98] Over $990 Million in Aviation Funds: From FY93-FY98 California received over $990 million in Airport Improvement Program funds to help build and renovate airports, and, when necessary, to provide funds for noise abatement to improve the quality of life for residents who live near airports. Included in this funding was $15 million for soundproofing homes near LAX. Transit Funding: Following the 1994 Orange County bankruptcy, the Federal Transportation Administration expedited the award of a $23 million formula assistance grant to the Orange County Transit District, including $8.8 million of operating assistance. The Federal Transportation Administration has funded a number of Livable Communities including: a grant to the Los Angeles County MTA for Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative (LANI) which is a two-year transit-based demonstration program covering eight transit dependent, low-income LA communities; BART (San Francisco) on behalf of the Spanish Speaking Unity Council, to assist in the development of a "transit village" at the BART Fruitvale Station in Oakland. Saving Lives and Property: In 1997, the United States Coast Guard saved 371 lives and over $75.4 million of property in California.
Last Updated July 1999