CA: State's Dems, governor slam House budget bill

SFGate.com ^ | 11/09/05 | Zachary Coile, Edward Epstein

[NormsRevenge]

Washington -- California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger joined a chorus of Democratic lawmakers Tuesday in criticizing the Republican-sponsored House budget bill, saying deep cuts to programs such as Medicaid and food stamps would "disproportionately impact" California residents and the state's budget.

The opposition from the Republican governor could further complicate efforts by House GOP leaders to win support for their plan to slash $54 billion in federal spending to help pay for extending tax cuts and Hurricane Katrina relief.

The budget measure also is stirring controversy in California because GOP leaders have attached proposals to split the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals -- the San Francisco-based federal appellate court that conservatives have long criticized as too liberal -- and to give states incentives to allow oil and gas drilling off their shores.

The budget-cutting measure also would open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to oil drilling, although some Republican moderates have warned they may oppose the bill if it is included.

House Majority Leader Roy Blunt, R-Mo., said the House would vote on the measure Thursday, although the vote already has been postponed several times because the leadership lacked the votes needed to pass it.

In a letter to California House members, Schwarzenegger warned that the budget bill could shift hundreds of millions of dollars of costs from the federal government on to the state.

For example, the budget would require legal immigrants to wait seven years, instead of the current five years, to qualify for food stamps. The proposal would deny food stamps to 70,000 people nationwide, including 11,000 Californians.

But under the California Food Assistance Program, the state would pay for food stamps for legal immigrants who were denied benefits by the federal government -- at a cost of $75 million over five years.

[SolidSupplySide]

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger joined a chorus of Democratic lawmakers Tuesday in criticizing the Republican-sponsored House budget bill, saying deep cuts to programs such as Medicaid and food stamps would "disproportionately impact" California residents and the state's budget.

What does this mean? I guess Republican House members in California should come up with budget cuts that "disproportionately impact" Delaware residents.