Democrats To Vote Wednesday on FY 2005-2006 State Budget Proposal
Democratic legislators are expected to bring to a vote on Wednesday a fiscal year 2005-2006 state budget proposal that does not include some funding cuts to health care or social services programs advocated by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), the Los Angeles Times reports.
The budget plan does not include provisions included in Schwarzenegger's budget proposal that would reduce the state's contribution to wages for service workers who provide in-home care for elderly residents and those with disabilities. In addition, the proposal Democrats are expected to vote on does not include a provision to enroll some beneficiaries of public health care programs in HMOs.
According to the Times, the restoration of these services would cost the state $208 million in 2005-2006 and "tens of millions more" beginning in FY 2006-2007.
Republican legislators have said they would not vote for the budget proposal until Democratic lawmakers disclosed their plans for state education funding for the remainder of the legislative session (Halper, Los Angeles Times, 6/15).