Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the most overdue state budget in California history Tuesday, skipping the usual fanfare because he said the Legislature's efforts on the $144.5 billion spending plan were nothing to celebrate.
Nearly a quarter of the way through its fiscal year, the state finally has freed up billions of dollars to pay medical clinics, nursing homes, daycare centers and contract vendors. The 85-day impasse stemmed from a partisan legislative standoff over how to close California's $15.2 billion deficit.
The governor signed the budget bills in his office, rather than the Capitol rotunda where budgets are usually signed.
"Why I didn't feel like celebrating in the rotunda is that it is inexcusable to have a budget that's three months late," Schwarzenegger said after signing the budget before a small gathering of local officials. "It's three months late because both of the parties stayed in their ideological corners and refused to come out."
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