"The proposed elimination of CalWorks and Healthy Families is unprecedented and would cause severe hardship to many of the state's most vulnerable families and children.  It also would deal a blow to the state's already fragile economy; by terminating these programs, the state would lose at least $5.2 billion in federal funding that otherwise would flow through the economy.  When a poor family loses aid through CALWORKS or a child loses health insurance, many people and businesses feel the impact - the landlord and the doctor bill may not get paid, and the family may cut back sharply on basic purchases from local retailers.  California's budget problems are daunting, but surely policymakers can make less disastrous choices than these."

The Conference Committee is currently in the middle of a marathon hearing on health and human service proposals. There are huge crowds in attendance and long lines of people testifying, almost all in opposition.