Calif. lawmakers and Gov. Jerry Brown are starting to roll out the pieces of a state budget deal – but they haven't reached a full agreement yet.
So far, the governor and Democratic leaders have agreed to increase funding for after-school programs, restore adult dental services under Medi-Cal and expand the state's Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income working families.
The deal increases funding for the CSU system and preserves the “middle class scholarship” program for UC and CSU students. But in a blow to UC leadership, the state will split off the UC president's office budget from the rest of the system after a scathing audit questioned the university's spending practices.
The parties will keep working on several other sticking points, such as Medi-Cal provider reimbursement rates, over the weekend. The Legislature faces a constitutional deadline of next Thursday to send the governor a budget.
Capitol Bureau Chief Ben Adler joins Insight with more on the budget deal.