Sorry for the lack of text in Friday afternoons blog. We were having the proverbial technical difficulties. In other words the scribe messed up.

The Budget Conference Committee has resumed this morning. Currently the Department of Finance is going through the $2.8 billion in additional cuts that were announced Friday by the Governor. Here is the link to the document:

http://www.dof.ca.gov/budget/historical/2009-10/may_revision/documents/HD%20MR%20Workbook%20(3).pdf

The cuts did not include an anticipated reduction to child welfare. Sources on Friday said the proposal was dropped because it was prohibited by federal law. But the cuts included severe limits to IHSS, elimination of adult day care and a realignment of children's programs in which counties would get an increased share of cost in exchange for some additional funding. The committee will hear testimony on these proposals on Wednesday at 9:30.

The committee is expressing frustration at the constant changes and lack of information from the Administration. The Department of Finance has presented three different May Revise documents and Tuesday night the Governor will speak to an unusual joint session of the Legislature on the budget. The committee is concerned it will not get the back-up to the proposals it needs to make decisions by June 15th. The rest of the day will be devoted to K-12 education, child care and community care licensing.  

The Conference Committee will begin Round Two of hearings on Friday. Committee staff indicate that the goal is to have the committee decide among various options from the Governor, LAO and advocates. Public comment will likely be limited. On Friday the committee will hear health issues and on Saturday the committee will hear human service issues.