Budget plan meets resistance
Grappling with a weakening economy and launching a politically bitter fight over taxes and spending cuts, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled a $141 billion budget for California on Thursday that dramatically slashes state programs and slaps higher fees on homeowners and drivers.Harrison Sheppard in the Daily News.
Trying to close a $14.5 billion budget gap, the governor proposes closing dozens of state parks, releasing thousands of prisoners early and cutting 10 percent in everything from social services and transportation to schools and health care.
For the Los Angeles region, the budget means the closing of at least six state parks, a loss in funding to the Los Angeles Unified School District of more than $500 million, and cuts to county health and public transit programs.
"Some might say that it sounds easy to just cut across the board by 10 percent, but let me tell