Persisting inequities have been top of mind for Senator Joe Nguyen as he’s worked to shore up social services and protections through progressive legislation. He’s been a leader in the Legislature on technology policy and expanding TANF benefits. Now, with jarring shortfalls looming, Nguyen is focused on the budget.

I reached out to Nguyen to hear about the budget proposal he’s been working on. We also discussed the application of benchmarks in analyzing COVID data and the inequities laid bare by the pandemic.

Michael Goldberg: State legislators are in this intermediary period between regular session ending and a probable special session. Based on the conversations you’ve had and the work you’ve been doing, what should the Legislature’s prioritization look like in the special session?

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