Concern from Advocates for Disabled, Seniors, and Others About More Cuts As California State Budget Bill Heads To Governor Schwa

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Governor to Cut $700 Million More From Budget

By Marty D. Omoto
Director/Organizer
California Disability Community Action Network

SB 77, the main budget bill, heads to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, after passage in the State Senate by a vote of 27-12 yesterday afternoon, which ended the 52 day deadlock in the State Legislature. The Senate approved the main budget bill as previously passed by the Assembly on July 20 which included $1.3 billion in cuts to public transportation, a five month suspension of the cost of living increases of the state portion of grants to persons with disabilities, the blind and low income seniors, and a one year suspension of cost of living increases for persons in the CalWORKS program. [Note: a full separate CDCAN report will be issued detailing impact of budget - including any new cuts to spending made by the Governor - after the Governor signs the budget bill, which he is expected to do within the next few days]

The budget also continues "cost containment" measures originally passed in previous budgets for regional center funded community-based services for at least another year and requires the Department of Developmental Services to come up with a plan to reduce spending by regional centers, due to the Legislature October 1, 2007.
No reductions were made to the In-Home Supportive Services program that serves over 350,000 persons with disabilities, the blind, and seniors.

$700 Million in Spending Cuts Are Coming With Governor's Line Item Veto

More cuts are coming however because as part of the deal to win Senate Republican votes for the budget, the Governor pledged to use his line item veto power to reduce spending in the spending plan by $700 million.

Disability, senior, mental health, low income family and other advocates - while wanting an end to the budge stalemate, are deeply concerned about where those spending cuts will come from, since the Governor can only use his line item veto power in areas of the budget that do not require changes in state law to make those reductions. In addition, the Governor and legislative leaders previously pledged not to make reductions to education, leaving the health and human services part of the budget the most vulnerable for any line item spending reductions.

Budget Delay Impact on Thousands of People with Disabilities and Seniors