Assemblyman Jim Nielsen (R-Gerber) was re-appointed today to the Republican Leadership post of Vice-Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, a position he has held since 2009.  Speaker John Perez also re-appointed Nielsen to the Appropriations and Rules Committees, as well as naming him to the Veteran Affairs Committee.  Nielsen, during his first term in the Assembly, served as Vice-Chair of both the Budget and Appropriations Committees. 

"I am honored to be given the opportunity to sit on these very important committees," stated Nielsen. "California enters the new year with a current budget deficit of $6 billion and a projected $25 billion budget deficit in the next fiscal year, which starts in July.  While we have made great strides the last 2 years by cutting $40 billion of spending out of the state budget, there clearly is much more to be done.  We must not raise taxes on Californians to solve Sacramento's spending problem.  Instead, we must continue to cut spending and bring real reform to our budget process."

"I believe that California cannot recover from this economic recession until this Legislature constrains the harmful regulations that are killing businesses and driving jobs to neighboring states.  I am very excited to sit on the Veteran Affairs Committee as well, and look forward to working with Committee Chair Colonel Paul Cook on ways to better protect and serve our veterans in California," Nielsen said.