SACRAMENTO (AP) — California lawmakers have sent a $125 billion budget that boosts money for education and social services to Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk.
The Legislature’s Thursday vote to pass the one-year spending plan comes largely along party lines, with just a handful of Republicans supporting it.
READ MORE: VIDEO: Asian Man Attacked In Oakland, Tries to Fight Back In Attempted RobberyDemocratic lawmakers say the budget will help alleviate poverty while building savings to weather a future economic downturn.
Republicans say it fails to adequately prepare for a recession and reneges on promises made to voters about increasing payments for doctors and dentists who treat low-income patients on Medi-Cal.
READ MORE: Support for Windsor Mayor Crumbles as Details of Alleged Sexual Misconduct EmergeThe plan also imposes new financial restrictions and enrollment targets on the University of California following a scathing audit that questioned administrators’ use of money.
Lawmakers have also sent policy changes on marijuana, immigration and the rules around recall elections to Brown’s desk.
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