The mid-year solution includes 500 million dollars in cuts to education and a ten percent cut in the reimbursement rate for Medi-Cal, the state’s low- income health care program. It also puts off the appointment of 60 judges. Both Republicans and Democrats are on board. That’s encouraging to Democratic Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez: “If perhaps we can resolve what’s to come with a little of the maturity that we’re going to resolve this issue, then California might be in a better place than we all think.” Nunez warns that even more devastating cuts will be needed to close the multi-billion dollar budget gap. Republican Assemblyman Roger Niello says he’s anxious to tackle the remaining deficit: “Next week wouldn’t be too soon to start solving the rest of that problem.” Governor Schwarzenegger called lawmakers into a special session to deal with the budget last month