More protests and arrests at Capitol during budget talks

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Demonstrators flooded the Capitol rotunda Wednesday to protest cuts to home care for the elderly and disabled. Police arrested 43 people.

Sean Kennedy, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol, said they were cited for misdemeanors and released.

It was the second protest in two days in which demonstrators were arrested by the California Highway Patrol, which provides security at the Capitol. Ten people were arrested on Tuesday after blocking the entrance to Gov. Jerry Brown’s office.

Brown has proposed saving $225 million from the In-Home Supportive Services program through cuts that include a 7% reduction in hours of care. The cut would have a ripple effect because counties and the federal government would withdraw matching funds, leading to a total reduction of about $800 million.

Democrats in the Legislature want to reduce the cut to $90 million, which includes continuing the current 3.6% cut in hours of care.

The deadline for lawmakers to approve the budget is Friday, and negotiations are ongoing.

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— Chris Megerian in Sacramento

twitter.com/@chrismegerian