Hopes of the first on-time budget in two decades have faded.
A major hang-up is over a state program that would allow undocumented immigrant children to receive health care. The Democratic-written spending plan includes the provision, but Assembly Republican leader George Plescia says it’s not an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars:
“It’s very much a hot button political issue and that’s why there’s no Republicans that would vote for it.”
Democratic Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez says it’s just election year politics:
“And I just gotta tell you I’m very disappointed in my Republican colleagues that are using this as a sticking point to not want to get a budget done.”
Republicans maintain the major issue for them remains whittling down the state’s structural deficit. Legislative leaders say expect to hash things out before the end of the fiscal year June 30th.