Legislators, governor agree on $375 million cut to CalWorks

California's welfare-to-work program is poised for a major blow under the state's budget deal. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders agreed on a $375 million cut to CalWorks services including child care, transportation, and job training.

In a teleconference Tuesday morning the County Welfare Directors Association's top executive Frank Mecca said CalWorks is enrolling people who've never applied for public assistance.

Frank Mecca: "And at the very moment that they need our help to get back into the labor force, we're going to say sorry, we can't help you. At the very moment when the safety net is most critical, we're going to pull the carpet out from under these people. It seems contrary to the goal of getting people back into the workforce."

Mecca says the cuts would eliminate 40,000 adults and twice as many children from welfare programs in California. He denounces the budget plan as hypocritical and counterproductive. The legislature is scheduled to vote on the budget Thursday.