Buchanan Covers Wide Range of Topics at Elk Grove Breakfast Meeting

From education funding to the on-going state budget crisis, 15th District Assembly Member Joan Buchanan met with Elk Grove constituents Saturday morning to discuss these and other topics over a pancake breakfast.

Held at the Elk Grove Senior Center, the first term Alamo Democrat told the dozens of people in attendance “she was honored to represent Elk Grove” and felt her effectiveness as a assembly member was in helping municipalities within the district address local problems. The 15th Assembly District snakes from the East Bay east and includes portions of Elk Grove.

Buchanan opened the meeting with a discussion of the states on-going budget problems. After giving a historic perspective on the budget woes, Buchanan said political leaders must be willing to make tough decisions.

“We have gotten in this situation by not making tough budget decisions,” she said. “We need a thoughtful plan.”

Buchanan pointed to the leadership of former governors Earl Warren, a Republican, and Pat Brown, a Democrat, as example of leaders who were able to put aside partisan politics and deal with budgetary problems they both faced in their respective administrations. She said they both did what was best for the people of California, not any particular political agenda.

In addition to discussing the budget woes, Buchanan also covered prison reform, medical marijuana, the water bill and education during a lively question and answer session.

As a school board member for 18 years prior to being elected to the assembly, Buchanan said much of the states future economic well being hinges on public school funding and having a well trained and educated workforce.

“Public education is the corner stone of our democracy,” she also noted.