SACRAMENTO - The Assembly narrowly passed a plan Monday to cut the state corrections budget by $1 billion, despite Republican lawmakers who assailed
the measure as a threat to public safety.
Legislative leaders said they need to make more cuts to the prisons budget before they adjourn next week.
Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, removed provisions from a Senate bill that proved to be the most controversial - the early release of ill
inmates or some of those age 60 or older, as well as a proposal to reduce certain property crimes from felonies to misdemeanors.
The revised measure passed the Assembly on a 41-35 vote.
The Assembly will also alter the state's parole system this year. Regardless, the plan may be doomed.
Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg has vowed to withhold concurrence until the Assembly acts on even deeper cuts and systemic changes.
"The Assembly took a good first step today but it's not a complete package," Steinberg said in a written statement.
Assembly Speaker Karen Bass said she is confident that negotiations in coming days will produce legislation to end the impasse...
Read the story... | Source: Daily Bulletin | Posted: 8/25/09
Read the story... | Source: Sacramento Bee | Posted:
9/1/09
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