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Governor's Revised Budget Will Hurt Poor the Most, Critics Say

Critics say Governor Schwarzenegger's revised budget will hurt poor Californians the most. The governor is proposing more than half-a-billion dollars in cuts to health and human services programs. KPB

Governor's Revised Budget Will Hurt Poor the Most, Critics Say

Critics say Governor Schwarzenegger's revised budget will hurt poor Californians the most. The governor is proposing more than half-a-billion dollars in cuts to health and human services programs. KPBS reporter Kenny Goldberg has the story.

Currently, working families of three who earn up to $17,000 a year qualify for Medi-Cal benefits. The governor wants to restrict eligibility to families who earn up to $10,000 a year.

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Angela Gilliard is with the Western Center on Law and Poverty. She says up to 1.5 million families and children could be affected by that change.

Gilliard says these people will have few options for medical care.

Gilliard : The emergency room, or they go without, or they incur staggering medical debt. But in effect, they become uninsured.

Governor Schwarzenegger admits his proposed cuts will be painful. Critics are urging the legislature to reject them.

Kenny Goldberg, KPBS News.