Gov. Jerry Brown's revised budget calls for new cuts to California's safety net. The plan cuts health-care programs for the elderly and the poor.
The governor's proposal takes a $1.2 billion bite out of Medi-Cal. It calls for mandatory reductions in paid hours for people who care for the elderly and disabled in patients' own homes. It also cuts nearly $880 million from CalWORKS, California's welfare-to-work program.
Critics say this "cuts only" budget hurts those who can least afford it. California Health and Human Services Secretary Diana Dooley says the governor felt he had no other options.
"The attempts that have been made to increase revenue that require two-thirds vote of the legislature have not been possible," she said.
A governor-backed measure on the November ballot would raise sales taxes and taxes on the wealthy. But even if it passes, none of the new revenue will go for health programs.
The revenue would go to K-12 public schools and community colleges instead.
