Judge blocks Schwarzenegger bid to kill child-care program

[n2doc]

By Shane Goldmacher and Patrick McGreevy, Los Angeles Times
November 5, 2010|8:37 p.m.

Reporting from Sacramento — A state judge Friday blocked Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to eliminate a $256-million child-care program as Democratic legislators vowed to keep it operating, calling it their top priority once Jerry Brown takes office in January.

Schwarzenegger had used his line-item veto authority to eliminate the program before signing the budget last month, saying the cutback was needed to bolster the state's reserves.

The battle over the program, which serves nearly 60,000 low-income parents, is a reminder of the tough choices Brown will face as he straddles a line between the Democratic base that vaulted him into office and the chronic deficit he is vowing to tame. Democrats have been strong supporters of many of the programs slashed in recent years.

Friday's ruling, by Alameda County Superior Court Judge Wynne Carvill, came after program advocates sued the state, arguing that the state should have automatically enrolled parents in other subsidized day-care programs if they were eligible. The program that Schwarzenegger cut serves parents who were once on welfare but now hold jobs that do not pay enough for them to afford child care.

Carvill issued a temporary restraining order until a full hearing on the case can be held Nov. 23. The judge also ordered the state to notify parents that they can be screened to qualify for other state child-care programs.

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http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-state-budget-20101106,0,287393.story

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