On Wednesday, the California Assembly's Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services voted to reject proposed welfare cuts included in Gov. Jerry Brown's (D) fiscal year 2012-2013 budget proposal, the Los Angeles Times' "PolitiCal" reports.
Democrats opposed the cuts in a 3-1 party-line vote (Megerian, "PolitiCal," Los Angeles Times, 2/29).
Background
Brown's budget plan calls for cutting $946.2 million from CalWORKs -- the state's welfare-to-work program -- by limiting the amount of time adults could be on the program without finding work from four years to two years (California Healthline, 2/28).
After two years without work, families with children would continue to receive benefits, but their average monthly check would be cut by 20%, according to Brown's proposal ("PolitiCal," Los Angeles Times, 2/29).
Brown estimated that the CalWORKs cuts would save the state $946.2 million.
Subcommittee Hearing Details
Welfare advocates testified at the subcommittee hearing that Brown's proposal would harm families, as many people are struggling to find jobs in the current economy.
After rejecting the proposal, subcommittee members agreed to consider other strategies for saving money later this spring after the state assesses its income tax collection.
According to "Capitol Alert," the subcommittee vote was the first significant legislative rejection of Brown's budget plan since he introduced it in January (Yamamura, "Capitol Alert," Sacramento Bee, 2/29).
Broadcast Coverage
On Wednesday, Capital Public Radio's "KXJZ News" reported on welfare advocates' arguments against Brown's proposed welfare cuts (Adler, "KXJZ News," Capital Public Radio, 2/29).