The State Budget Conference Committee has completed its review of the Governor revised budget.  The committee -- along party line votes -- is recommending about 25 percent less in cuts than the governor.  The committee preserves CalWORKs and Healthy Families among other programs, but the cuts to these safety-net items is deep.  Tax increases on cigarette's and oil severance are included, as are increase fees on State Park.  Click here to read the committee's report.

There may be a "test" vote on the budget as early as the week of June 22.  The vote will be largely perfunctory.  Negotiations now shift to the Big Five (governor and leaders of both houses).  The final budget will emerge from these sources, but the time frame is uncertain.