Budget Deal Slashes Prison Spending
The state Legislature is expected to vote tomorrow on the $25 billion deficit package agreed to Monday night. Many of the specific cuts are now the focus of strong criticism from interest groups. One large spending cut is only now becoming more clear -- a plan to reduce the prison budget by $1.2 billion.
Reviving Offshore Oil
A small but controversial part of Monday's state budget agreement revives an offshore oil project near Santa Barbara which was killed earlier this year.
CSU Votes to Increase Fees
California State University trustees yesterday approved a plan to help close a $500 million deficit brought on by state budget cuts. The vote to both increase student fees and decrease enrollment was expected, but not popular.