New social cuts in California to follow revised budget deficit

[Hannah Bell]

A week after the November election, California’s budget deficit projection has been revised sharply upward, and a special legislative session has been called to implement new cuts.

The California Legislative Analyst's Office issued a report November 10 finding that the projected deficit over the next year and a half had increased to $25.4 billion. This is 25 percent larger than the figure released immediately before the election.

The 26-page report emphasizes the urgency and necessity of cuts in social spending.

Schwarzenegger said two days later that he will convene an emergency special session of the incoming legislature in early December to address the deficit. “Legislators will have to face the ugly truth that we can only spend the revenues we have,” he said. “They know it won't be easy, but they also know they cannot wait to take action.”

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/nov2010/cali-n19.shtml