California lawmakers rejected the governor’s proposal to eliminate Cal Grants, according to The Associated Press.
According to an article from the San Francisco Chronicle, the Conference Committee on the Budget rejected the proposal June 5 in a 6-4 party-line vote, with Democrats voting against removal of the financial aid program. The article said that Republican lawmakers’ supported the proposal because “such tough decisions have to be considered.”
Despite the committee’s rejection, the reduction or elimination of Cal Grants is still on the table, as the state scrambles for ways to tackle the $24.3 billion budget gap.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s plan to phase out Cal Grants would have saved the state $173 million in its first year and $450 million for the following year by rescinding 118,000 new awards for incoming fall 2009 freshmen, while allowing current recipients to renew their grants as long as they maintain eligibility.
Approximately 8,680 Cal State Long Beach students were awarded $18.9 million in Cal Grants for the 2008-2009 academic year, as reported in an article in the June 4 edition of the Daily Forty-Niner. The proposal would have potentially caused CSULB to recalculate the university grants it had promised to students in financial need who do not qualify for Cal Grants.
Jessinda Kim, a sophomore psychology major, is a Cal Grant recipient and said she depends on the financial aid.
“I don’t have a job and I commute, so I need the money,” Kim said. “[The 10 percent increase is] more money I could be using on books.”
Douglas Castillo, a senior accounting major, said he recently found out that he is not eligible for a Cal Grant.
“So now I’m waiting for the federal money,” Castillo said. “If I don’t get enough, then I will become a part-time student and only take two classes.”
Ruth Onofre, a sophomore microbiology major, said she hasn’t received her financial aid yet “but I’m sure I’m sure it’ll be less.”
She said, “It keeps getting worse and worse each year. It’s really a bummer to hear.”
Marisol Aguilar contributed to this article.