Free Republic

<p>Nellie Plank, 96, was forced out of a nursing home by Medicaid cuts and now lives with her son, James Hosier. "I've called a bunch of politicians and that was really a big help," Hosier said sarcastically. "I've voted my last vote — there's no point to it. You call when you need help and all you get is a bunch of bull, blaming it on somebody else."</p>

<p>Educators bracing for financial disaster were somewhat relieved that the Senate budget plan -- which slashes about $2 billion in school funding -- isn't as damaging as they expected.</p> <p>The Senate plan passed Sunday preserves voter-approved minimum funding for schools and largely mirrors Gov. Gray Davis' budget blueprint issued in May. But the bill, which the Assembly was expected to consider as early as Monday evening, still cuts deeply into specific programs that provide summer school, reading assistance and textbooks for students.</p>

Sacramento's fiscal woes damage quality of life and public optimism. By D.J. Waldie Like a bulldozed hillside above Los Angeles waiting for more tract houses, optimism in California is starting to erode. We don't know exactly what's happening, only that we're finally at the end of a year of public dissimulation about the readiness of the state's $35-billion budget shortfall to consume large parts of the way of life that we've wished into existence since 1945. Our California — imperfect, heedless and lovely — is our home, and it's beginning to feel awfully neglected.

<p>More than 250 school employees in Rapides Parish could be out of a job next school year if the latest budget-slashing suggestions are adopted.</p> <p>Suggested personnel cuts include 171 certified teachers, librarians and counselors, 13 Central Office workers and 31 custodians.</p>

MOSCOW (AP) - The Russian navy has decided to scrap about one-fifth of its ships because of a lack of funds to maintain them, its commander said in an interview published Sunday. "The navy will decommission those ships that to keep results in unreasonable expenses," Adm. Vladimir Kuroyedov told the military official daily Krasnaya Zvezda, or Red Star. "I regret to say that it will reduce the number of navy ships by about one-fifth of their current number." Kuroyedov did not say how many ships the navy currently has, but Western experts have put their number at about 300. Kuroyedov...

<p>BOSTON (AP) At a time of deep cutbacks in state services, there is at least one area where spending will increase next year: legislative pay.</p> <p>Massachusetts' 200 lawmakers will automatically receive a pay increase an amount yet to be determined under a constitutional amendment approved by voters four years ago.</p>

<p>DENVER, Colo. — Twenty Denver judges are donating part of their salary to bailiffs, clerks and other court employees who have been ordered to take three days off without pay to help ease a state budget crisis.</p> <p>Each judge is giving $600 toward a fund for the furloughed workers to show support for what they say are underpaid employees who keep an overloaded system running. Each worker will get $100 before the holidays.</p>