Politics & Government

Skinner To Focus On Schools, Housing, Infrastructure As Assembly Budget Committee Chair

The new position should also help Skinner's district, which includes Albany in its boundaries that stretch from Hercules to Piedmont.

Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner is going to finish out her career in the state Assembly near the top of the heap.

Last week, Skinner was selected by Assembly Speaker John Perez as the chair of the powerful Assembly Budget Committee.

Skinner will oversee that panel, which steers the state budget process, during her final year and a half in the Assembly.

Skinner will be forced out due to terms at the end of 2014. The Berkeley Democrat has already announced she plans to run for the state Senate seat now held by Loni Hancock, who is facing term limits herself.

"(The committee chair) is a great way to round out my Assembly career," Skinner told Patch in an interview Friday. "I'm both really honored and really excited to be named to this."

Phillip Ung, a spokesman for Common Cause in Sacramento, said Skinner was chosen by Perez because of her leadership and communication skills.

He added she also has been a "very strong ally" of Perez, a key criteria for any budget committee chair.

Skinner acknowledges she's worked closely with Perez since they both entered the Assembly in 2008 and agrees it's a key component for her new duties.

"Clearly, the budget committee is something where you have to have a good working relationship with the speaker," she said.

Skinner said one of her prime goals is to make sure the state budget is approved by the June 30th deadline in 2014, just as it was this year.

The $96 billion budget that takes effect July 1 provides extra money for schools and also gives districts more flexibility on how they spend the funds. Education will be a top priority next year, too.

Skinner said her committee will monitor the effectiveness of how this year's extra money is spent. The panel will also need to determine what the state's fiscal health is a year from now. This year's extra revenue could be a trend or it could be a one-time bonus.

Skinner added the state also needs to help those who have been hurt by the housing market crash.

In addition, California's infrastructure needs a boost. Repairing bridges and roads is another expenditure the committee will look at.

"By investing in infrastructure we're protecting the public and putting people back to work," said Skinner.

Ung said the budget committee assignment also will help programs in Skinner's district, which stretches from Piedmont to Hercules.

"They don't have to really fight anymore for their local projects," he said.

Find out what's happening in Albanywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Skinner said her new position will allow her to keep a closer eye on her district's programs, but she said her prime concern will be for California as a whole.

"My responsibility is to the entire state," she said.

Ung said the chairwomanship should help Skinner politically. Although she has never had problems raising campaign funds, the new position should make that job even easier.

"It makes her one of the most powerful people in Sacramento," he said.

Find out what's happening in Albanywith free, real-time updates from Patch.


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