CALIF. BEGINS FISCAL YEAR WITH NO BUDGET

The Associated Press ^ | Tuesday, July 1, 2003 | By TOM CHORNEAU

[Swanks]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - For the third consecutive year, California began the new fiscal year Tuesday without a state budget after lawmakers were unable to break a partisan impasse over spending and taxes.

Five other states also took their budget deliberations to the June 30 deadline without reaching a final agreement.

Lawmakers in Oregon, New Hampshire and Connecticut approved short-term spending plans allowing government to operate while debate continued.

Residents in Nevada and New Jersey also began Tuesday without a new budget. In Massachusetts, Gov. Mitt Romney signed a $22.1 billion state budget on the final day of the fiscal year, the first time in seven years a budget has been completed on time. He then immediately issued $201 million in vetoes, including a $23 million cut in additional assistance to cities and towns. North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley also signed a budget on the last day of the fiscal year Monday.

[WSGilcrest]

Isn't ol' Joe Graham back in NY?

[RS]

Don't have a budget... Can't be 38 Billion over Budget....

[clintonh8r]

In the land of fruits and nuts.....they don't need no stinkin' budget!

[BIGZ]

California went from 9 Billion surplus to a 38 Billion deficit years? What was the income received and how was the money spent?

[slasher82]

Didn't California receive a 1.5 billion settlement from El Paso Corporation on gas issues? I realize that would be an insignificant amount of compensation for no wrong doing and that it would not contribute to their bottom line (it will be lining pockets instead), so my heart really feels compassion for them in their time of need. Whannnh!