The following University of California, Davis, faculty members are available to comment on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed 2009-10 California budget priorities and other state issues that the governor and Legislature will be tackling.

• Debt, taxes and the economy
• Tax code reform
• Budget on the ballot?
• Open primary
• Health care reform
• Health care coverage for illegal immigrants
• K-12 school funding
• Partisan politics

DEBT, TAXES AND THE ECONOMY -- L. Jay Helms, associate professor of economics, has written and lectured extensively on public finance, the economics of taxation, and the impact of tax policy on economic growth. Contact: L. Jay Helms, Economics, (530) 752-2094, ljhelms@ucdavis.edu.

TAX CODE REFORM -- Law professor Dan Simmons, a specialist in tax law, can comment on Schwarzenegger's call for a major tax restructuring. Simmons was professor in residence in the Office of the Chief Counsel of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service from 1986 to 1987 and is co-author of "Federal Income Taxation of Business Organizations," among other books. He specializes in state and local tax policy and federal income taxation of business organizations and individuals. Contact: Dan Simmons, Law, (530) 752-2757, dlsimmons@ucdavis.edu.

BUDGET ON THE BALLOT? -- Floyd Feeney, the Homer G. and Ann Berryhill Angelo Professor of Law, can discuss the pros and cons of putting aspects of the state budget before voters. "Bringing voters into the mix could be helpful, depending how it is done," he says. Feeney is an expert on the California initiative process. He served as legal adviser to the California Assembly Speaker's Commission on the California Initiative Process in 2000-2001 and is co-author of the 1992 book, "Improving the California Initiative Process: Options for Change." Contact: Floyd Feeney, School of Law, (530) 752-2893, fffeeney@ucdavis.edu.

OPEN PRIMARY -- Edmond Costantini, professor emeritus of political science, can talk about the advantages and disadvantages of open primaries, in which voters from any party can vote for any candidate. Costantini specializes in political parties and public opinion, particularly in regard to California electoral politics. Contact: Edmond Costantini, Political Science, (530) 752-0974, office; (530) 756-2009, home; egcostantini@ucdavis.edu.

HEALTH CARE REFORM -- Health insurance coverage must be extended to as many uninsured or underinsured individuals as possible, including undocumented immigrants and people who are too disorganized to maintain and submit financial records, says Patrick Romano, professor of general medicine and pediatrics and a researcher with the UC Davis Center for Healthcare Policy and Research. Meaningful reform also should reduce health disparities, improve physician participation in Medicaid/Medi-Cal (or create a single-payer system) and make health care payment/reimbursement systems more efficient. Contact: David Ong, UC Davis Health System Public Affairs, (916) 734-9049, david.ong@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu.

HEALTH CARE COVERAGE FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS -- Law school dean Kevin R. Johnson disputes arguments that illegal immigrants' use of health care services is a significant drain on the system. Johnson is the author of "Opening the Floodgates: Why America Needs to Rethink Its Borders and Immigration Laws" and "The 'Huddled Masses' Myth: Immigration and Civil Rights." He is co-editor of the ImmigrationProf blog http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/ and served on President-elect Barack Obama's Immigration Policy Group during the presidential race. Johnson is also a professor of Chicana/o studies at UC Davis. Contact: Kevin R. Johnson, School of Law, (530) 752-0243, krjohnson@ucdavis.edu.

K-12 SCHOOL FUNDING -- Tom Timar, professor of education and director of the UC Davis Center for Applied Policy in Education, argues that any cuts in public school funding should be accompanied by legislation to give local school districts maximum flexibility in allocating the reduced dollars. An expert in education finance and governance, Timar wrote the chapter on categorical funding for the landmark 2007 study, "Getting Down to Facts." The study, which was commissioned by California's political leadership, concluded that California's educational system is crippled by a complex bureaucracy, flawed teacher policies and misspent school money, leaving it in need of sweeping reforms. From 2006 to 2007, Timar served as director of research for the Governor's Advisory Committee on Education Excellence. Contact: Tom Timar, School of Education, (530) 754-6654, office; (707) 259-1067, home; (707) 299-9473, cell; tbtimar@ucdavis.edu.

PARTISAN POLITICS -- Political science professor Robert Huckfeldt can comment broadly on the partisan politics that divide Californian Democrats and Republicans and fuel budget gridlock. Huckfeldt is co-author of "Political Disagreement: The Survival of Diverse Opinions Within Communication Networks." A scholar of public opinion, participation and voting in national elections, Huckfeldt's other books include "Politics in Context," "Race and the Decline of Class in American Politics" and "Citizens, Politics, and Social Communication." Contact: Robert Huckfeldt, Political Science, (530) 752-0975, rhuckfeldt@ucdavis.edu.