Women’s panel chaired by Oscar-winner gets new life

SACRAMENTO — Academy Award winner Geena Davis joined lawmakers in the state capital Tuesday to announce new funding for the Commission on the Status of Women, which Gov. Jerry Brown had proposed eliminating as part of sweeping cuts to the state budget.

Assembly Speaker John Pérez, D-los Angeles, said the state Assembly will give the commission $150,000 from its own budget. Davis, who is the commission’s chairwoman, said the panel’s work is still needed as California women face unequal work conditions, earn only 84 cents to the dollar that men earn, and are more likely to be without health care.

The “Thelma and Louise” star, who was appointed to the commission by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, said the money will allow the commission to keep operating in the 2012-13 fiscal year. It will seek private funding and partnerships for future years.

“We on the commission have heard Governor Brown’s concerns, and we are moving forward in a new direction with a clarified focus and a renewed commitment to women and girls,” Davis said.

She said the commission will focus on gender inequality in the media, women and families in the military, business, education and health and safety.

In January, Brown proposed eliminating the commission, which was created by his father, former Gov. Edmund G. “Pat” Brown. The commission was established as an advisory panel to the Legislature and governor on public policy issues affecting women.

His budget for the coming fiscal year said there were numerous “alternative and effective forums” addressing the same issues. The cut saves $265,000 in the state’s general fund, which pays for day-today government operations.

Pérez was surrounded by female lawmakers as he announced the funding Tuesday in a meeting room at the state Capitol. Sen. Noreen Evans, Dsanta Rosa, chairwoman of the legislative women’s caucus, said women and children have taken the brunt of successive years of deep budget cuts to social services, health programs and education.

“Whether it’s women as providers of state services, such as teachers or health care providers, or whether it’s women as recipients of state services, such as inhome supportive services or child care, these cuts are impacting the women of this state,” she said.

Evans and other members of the women’s caucus criticized the Democratic governor when he told a radio host last week that lawmakers should “man up” and make the deep spending cuts necessary to balance the state budget.

On Tuesday, Pérez said he was not offended and that people are too focused on “a verbal slip, a joke, a statement.”

“Clearly, he was just the governor in a moment in a radio conversation, saying something that really shouldn’t overly distract us,” Pérez said.

Brown declined to answer a question about the women’s commission when a reporter called out to him as he left a separate event Tuesday outside the Capitol.