Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed budgets would make deep cuts in state-funded health programs. Critics say many Californians would suffer as a result.
The governor wants to cut more than $2 billion from the health and human services budget.
People on Medi-Cal would see reduced benefits. Clinics that provide family planning services would get less money. And centers that help people with disabilities would lose more than a quarter of a billion dollars.
Health and Human Services Secretary Kim Belshe says there's no alternative.
"The status quo is not an option, and so there are difficult budget reductions in health, that will have an impact on people who rely upon health care services today," Belshe says.
If the ballot measures fail next Tuesday, the governor wants an additional 700-million dollars in health care cuts. The Healthy Families program would be one of the targets.
Kenny Goldberg, KPBS News.
