Students for California's Future: News - January 5, 2009

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Campus Rally @ De Anza College, Jan. 13 & 14, Cupertino, CA - Facebook Event

More students compete for fewer UC slots – More students have applied to attend a University of California campus next year than any year in UC's history. The count is preliminary, UC officials said, but will likely amount to a record number of rejection letters sent to high school seniors and aspiring transfer students. Sacramento Bee article

Belt tightening begins - Private, public sectors prepare for a grim 2009 - The state budget crisis’ latest casualty has been higher education, as the Tri-Counties’ two California State University campuses have put an immediate stop to several large construction projects. - Pacific Coast Business Times

California Supreme Court to take on state law granting in-state tuition to illegal immigrants – California's highest court is poised to be the next battleground in the debate over benefits for illegal immigrants as the justices have agreed to hear arguments on the constitutionality of a state law allowing undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at public colleges and universities. LA Times article

Governor takes aim at paid holidays – Like much of the nation's workforce, California state employees got to spend New Year's Day at home with their families and still get paid. Unlike many in the private sector, state workers are slated to get an additional 13 paid holidays off the rest of this year — including Lincoln and Washington's birthdays in February (four days apart), Cesar Chavez Day in March, Columbus Day in October and Veteran's Day in November. The policy is among the most generous in the nation: only two other states offer government employees more paid holidays. San Jose Mercury News article

Dan Walters: Capitol's 2009 prospects look grim – It's safe to say that the budget and the $40 billion deficit projected over the next 18 months will remain the Capitol's preoccupation – or, more likely, its obsession. No matter what the governor and lawmakers do, even if they do it very quickly, the state will run out of money in a few weeks and probably be forced to turn off its check-writing machines. Walters column in Sacramento Bee