Lawmakers in both houses have been working on a group of bills that trims about five billion dollars from the state’s 20 billion dollar shortfall. They’ve passed measures to cut prison medical spending and other government programs. But lawmakers have not yet resolved a measure that would change the way gas taxes are collected, or another that would require online retailers to charge sales tax on California purchases. The plan does not include any major cuts to education or health and human services. Speaker Karen Bass:
“The idea that we would cut what’s basically been left on life support, when there might be some other options a couple of months down the line, it was just not acceptable to us.”
Bass is hoping more federal aid will come through. The budget fix is being approved without Republican support, and Governor Schwarzenegger isn’t thrilled with some aspects of it, either. He called lawmakers into the emergency session last month.
