Gov. Jerry Brown OKs $11 billion in budget cuts

[alp227]

(03-24) 04:00 PDT Sacramento - --

Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law billions of dollars in cuts to state programs and services on Thursday as opportunity narrowed for a bipartisan compromise to solve California's $26.6 billion deficit.

Brown acknowledged that negotiations had dragged on too long to hold a special election for tax extensions and increases on June 7, his preferred date. Democratic leaders late Thursday were waiting for a splinter group of Republicans to hand over their written list of demands - changes in regulations, pensions and other areas of state government - over which they're willing to lend their support for a special election sometime in June.

In a ceremony at the Capitol, Brown signed 13 bills that make $11.2 billion in cuts and shifts in state spending that were approved by the Legislature last week. He did not sign other spending-cut bills passed by lawmakers, though, as he is waiting for the Legislature to pass the full package.

The bills Brown signed make deep cuts in state spending, including limiting doctor's visits and prescription medications for the poor, reducing the amount of time adults can receive welfare, eliminating day centers for the elderly and disabled, and slashing $500 million each from the University of California and California State University systems.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/03/24/BAVE1IJ54Q.DTL

[mackerel]

1. I wonder if we will feel it as badly as Schwartzenegger's cuts?

[Starry Messenger]

2. Are there going to be any protests about this?

The prevailing mood here seems to be rather fatalistic. This is going to be devastating for the poor and workers.