After a successful marathon overnight session by the state's legislators to propose a state budget, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger finally gave his approval with his signature this evening, ending the longest California has every been without one (100 days!). In it, he approved of $87.5 billion and vetoed $962 million in 23 line items.
"The vetoes included $366 million from CalWorks, the state's welfare-to-work program, and $256 million from subsidized child care," explained the Sacramento Bee. "The governor had proposed eliminating both programs." Another $133 million was stripped for "from mental health services for special education students," added the LA Times.
That move will increase the state's reserves, and he hopes the federal government will kick in the money to cover the welfare program.
"Governor Schwarzenegger's final actions in office were directed at making life more difficult for California's working parents and the poorest, sickest and most elderly Californians," reacted John Perez (D - Los Angeles), Speaker of the Assembly. "This is disappointing, but not surprising, considering the fact that his budget plan would have wiped out 430,000 jobs."
