Davis’ First State Budget

Re “Prenatal Care for Immigrants in Davis Budget,” Jan. 14:

I am a citizen; my daughter is a citizen. I pay taxes. I don’t have dental insurance. My daughter needs braces. Can I have $2,000 of this $60 million for these braces? I guess this is how it’s going to be with a liberal governor at work. Continue to give to others who aren’t even here legally, who don’t contribute into the tax system and otherwise have no use for our system, otherwise they would become citizens. I guess I’m frustrated because this money could be directed to citizens of the U.S. and California.

GARY ARNESON

Huntington Beach

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During Gov. Gray Davis’ campaign for office he said he was shocked and disappointed by the pay raises recommended by the Citizens Compensation Commission. He also called the raises “unthinkable,” because rank-and-file state workers have not received a cost-of-living adjustment since 1995.

State employees are shocked and disappointed that Davis accepted a pay raise before taking office. We find it “unthinkable” that he offers us just 1% now and 2% next year, after making such strong comments condemning the pay raises.

State employees should not have to wait for the May revise to get a long-overdue cost-of-living adjustment. Davis has the responsibility to keep his word instead of doing the unthinkable.

DAN AGUIRRE, President

Calif. Assn. of Professional

Scientists, Sacramento

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Thank God for free speech (“Teachers’ View of Davis Plans: Devil Is in Details,” Jan. 11). I can’t visualize managing 35 children six or seven hours a day. So why do we expect one teacher to manage and teach 36 students daily? Facts are, we are underachieving.

The state of California has the $375 million, per grade, to reduce class size in fourth, fifth and sixth grades now. And the bonus is that Davis was advertised as the best-prepared candidate in waiting, having begun his grooming with Jerry Brown. I say the facts show that genuine changes at our schools should be expected by May.

RAY HOLM

Arroyo Grande

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One week on the job and Davis is already cutting $4.1 million “from AIDS education and treatment” while leaving $400 million in reserve for emergencies (Jan. 9). If Davis doesn’t believe that the AIDS epidemic constitutes even 1/100 of an emergency, then what does?

My apologies to Green Party candidate Dan Hamburg. I should have listened when you insisted that there weren’t any real differences between Democrats and Republicans. You were right.

JEROME DAVIS

West Hollywood