We are thrilled to announce Katie Little as the new Director of Government Affairs here at the California League of Food Producers. Katie brings a wealth of experience and expertise in public policy, legislative advocacy, and government affairs. A proud alumna of the University of Southern California, where she earned her Master's in Public Administration, and the University of California, Davis, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science, Katie's academic background is complemented by an impressive track record in the agricultural sector.
 

In her most recent role as Senior Policy Advocate at the California Farm Bureau, Katie demonstrated exceptional leadership as the lead advocate on critical issues such as animal health and welfare, rural crime, wildlife, air quality, and transportation. Prior to her tenure at the California Farm Bureau, Katie served as the Director of Public Affairs at The Wheeler Company: California Building Officials (CALBO), where she provided invaluable government affairs support, lobbied on legislation, and coordinated membership involvement. With her extensive and befitting background, Katie is well-equipped to lead CLFP in navigating complex regulatory landscapes and advocating for the interests of our members at both state and local levels. 
 
Welcome, Katie - we're happy to have you! 

Earlier this month, Governor Newsom released his January Budget for 2024-25. Notably, this proposal marks a large deficit of $38 billion as we enter the second year of the legislative session. Many readers may remember that the Legislative Analysts Office (LAO) had predicted a $58 billion deficit as they had not anticipated the governor’s cut to education of roughly $15 billion. The remainder of the discrepancy between the governor’s and LAO’s proposals (totaling about $20 billion) can be found in baseline budget cuts to programs such as transit grants, zero-emission vehicle programs, electric grid infrastructure, and school facilities.