Prisons will continue to be funded with Corrections and Rehabilitation recieving $9.8 billion. The General government is also funded with $1.6 billion prioritized. Legislative, judicial, and executive branches of state government will receive $3.8 billion. State Resources will get $1.7 billion. The emphasis on Environmental Protection remains intact in the budget with $90 million dollars allotted in the budget. State and Consumer Services will be funded at $577 million. Labor and Workforce Development is also funded at $103 million. Spending cuts were also made. Those include a 527 million dollar cut to Health and Human Services including 322 million to MediCal. Although this cut sounds alarming, the Schwarzenegger administration states that medical has been overfunded in the last few years and not all the monies reserved have been used in the last few years. General government cuts total $70 million including a 30 million dollar program that helps local governments mitigate the impacts of Indian Gaming on local communities. Corrections and Rehabilitation was shorted $39 million.  Legislative, judicial, executive branch cuts total $23 million. State Resources were cut $17 million including a Park’s maintenance program. K-12 education was cut $15 million with another 11 million cut from Higher education. Senator Dave Cox also weighed in on his no vote on the budget, as well the governor’s line item vetoes.

Hello, this is Senator Dave Cox with another Capitol Report. This week, the Legislature passed the State Budget. Like many in California, I was frustrated with the delay. Californians expect and deserve a budget that is balanced. Unfortunately, this budget was not balanced.  It will only balance if the Governor exercises his veto authority to reduce spending. I know that it is essential for the State of California to have a budget enacted.  Hospitals, nursing homes and venders need to get paid. Most people who contacted my office during the budget delay agreed that the budget should be balanced, that it should not spend more than it takes in.  Yet some urged me to vote for it just to “get it done.” While several improvements to the budget were achieved in the final days, including: a commitment from the Governor to reduce spending; some modest protection of transportation and levee projects from frivolous lawsuits; and the elimination of policies that would have harmed the North State economy; this was not a budget that I could support. Like all responsible parents know, there are times when you have to say NO. This is Senator Dave Cox.  Thanks for listening.