The governor plans budget cuts in 2008/09 that would leave our 23-campus California State University another $386 million in the hole.

This is bad policy when the economy is lagging, businesses are desperate for skilled workers, the State's infrastructure needs massive improvements, and disadvantaged and middle-class students find it ever harder to afford college.

The CSU is the solution to our State's economic challenges, not the problem.

The CSU educates the State's skilled workforce, graduates most of California's under-represented students, and contributes more than $7 billion to the State's economy.

Cuts to the CSU mean new students will be turned away and current students will have a tougher time making it to graduation.