An American Hero: Rep. James Oberstar

I was lucky enough to observe Chair James Oberstar (D-Minnesota) this past year in Washington D.C. He is an American Hero for his unwavering commitment to our nation’s transportation and infrastructure. I learned a great deal just watching him in committee hearings and meetings throughout the year. Chair Oberstar’s knowledge and history will be missed, but I am sure he will continue inspiring us.

Dec

26

State and Federal Budget Organization

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I am reading The Politics of Public Budgeting: Getting and Spending, Borrowing and Balancing. I like this book because of how it combines theory and practice and would encourage to anyone interested to take a read.

I enjoy reading public budgets because they are crafted by a publicly, democratically elected body in a generally open, accessible and transparent process. Since 2004, starting with my community colleges budget when I served as a Student Trustee on the Board, I’ve been reading public budgets.

The organization of a budget shows how a budget viewed by the public.

California’s State Budget Proposal will be released by Governor Brown by January 10 (http://www.ebudget.ca.gov/Enacted/agencies.html). The state budget has been organized by agencies and general category:

K thru 12 Education
Higher Education
Health and Human Services
Corrections and Rehabilitation
Business, Transportation & Housing
Natural Resources
Environmental Protection
State and Consumer Services
Labor and Workforce Development
General Government
Legislative, Judicial, and Executive

United States Federal Government Budget Proposal will be released by President Obama no later than the 1st Monday in February (http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget). The federal budget was organized by departments and agencies:

The Budget Message of the President
Rescuing the Economy
Reviving Job Creation and Laying a New Foundation for Economic Growth
Restoring Responsibility
Department of Agriculture
Department of Commerce
Department of Defense
National Intelligence Program
Department of Education
Department of Energy
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Department of the Interior
Department of Justice
Department of Labor
Department of State and Other International Programs
Department of Transportation
Department of the Treasury
Department of Veterans Affairs
Corps of Engineers – Civil Works
Environmental Protection Agency
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
National Science Foundation
Small Business Administration
Social Security Administration
Corporation for National Community Service

Question: Which organization of a budget do you prefer and why?

Dec

26

Merry Christmas!

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Merry Christmas! I spent Christmas Eve and morning with Mayra and her family in Delano and then Christmas evening at my uncle Victor’s with my family. I am enjoying time with my family and I hope you are as well. Onward to New Years!