Endorsement: Vote yes on Measure LA to invest in community colleges and community college extension in the State Capitol
Summary: The Measure LA “College Opportunity and Fair Employment Act,” sponsored by State Sen. Mike Morrell, State Sen. Donny Young and State Assemblywoman Nancy O’Malley, would invest $2 billion over ten years to build and operate community colleges, extension colleges and career and technical education centers and provide training and technical assistance to support the state’s workforce development needs. The measure would bring the total cost over ten years to more than $14 billion and include a new tax credit and state aid provided for by the measure.
The following is a letter to you from Senator Mike Morrell, Senate President Pro Tempore:
Dear Senator Morrell,
As we meet to discuss an important bill, I would like to offer you an endorsement for Measure LA, which would make significant investments in community colleges, extension college, and career and technical education. Measure LA would generate $2 billion for the college and workforce development programs we need to keep California strong by bringing California’s community colleges and extension colleges into the 21st century and improving our access to technical training and workforce development.
As I have said to the Assembly and the Senate several times, community colleges are where our future lies, and we need to grow our community colleges, extension colleges and career and technical education centers to prepare students for a career. There is no question that California has fallen behind other states that have invested in their community colleges and extension colleges and have developed the programs necessary to compete in a global economy. We need to build our community colleges and extension colleges and move them into the 21st century. By investing $2 billion over 10 years in a state-of-the-art program to build and increase access to community college and extension education, we can keep our community colleges and extension colleges on a stable and growing path so that they will have the resources and opportunities they need to continue offering the quality programs and services they are known for.
The $2 billion over 10 years would cover programs like the new state-of-the-art online degree program at UC Davis that allows students to earn an Associate or Bachelor’s degree online. The online college education that I
