Lawmakers Push To Restore Benefits, Pre-K In Final Week Of State Budget Talks
SACRAMENTO (CBS SF/AP) -- Gov. Jerry Brown and fellow Democratic state lawmakers are heading into the final week of state budget talks having already agreed to a rainy day fund and paying down debt.
But lawmakers have their own plans for what to do with California's newfound surplus in the year that starts July 1.
Democratic lawmakers are pushing to restore recession-era social service cuts and proposing new programs such as preschool for low-income families.
Brown has refused new spending, arguing that most of the $2.4 billion in new revenue is temporary due to stock market gains.
Lawmakers are using the governor's proposal to use cap-and-trade money for high-speed rail as a bargaining tool.
Brown and legislative leaders hope to reach a deal by the June 15 constitutional deadline to pass a spending plan.
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