California budget: Assembly votes to cut welfare, spending on the disabled

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State lawmakers began to vote Wednesday to reduce services for the poor, elderly, blind and disabled to close California’s massive budget gap.

The initial volley of votes occurred in the Assembly, where legislators approved four bills, including cutbacks to welfare and in-home aid for the elderly and frail. The legislation must still be approved by the state Senate, which was voting on an additional round of cutbacks, and signed by Gov. Jerry Brown.

The voting began on a budget package even though there was no bipartisan compromise over a key portion of Brown’s proposal: a plan to extend billions in temporary sales, income and vehicle taxes.

-- Shane Goldmacher in Sacramento