SACRAMENTO, Calif.—Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Tuesday that he vetoed the largest piece of legislation in a package of budget bills because it did not take immediate steps to cut spending.
Democratic lawmakers said the bill would have shaved $2.1 billion from the $20 billion shortfall projected for California's budget through June 2011. So far, the Legislature and governor have agreed to just $200 million in spending cuts.
"It's extremely important that we immediately jump into action and make midyear cuts," Schwarzenegger told reporters on Tuesday. "We're spending, right now, $600 million a month more than we're taking in. It's irresponsible."
Schwarzenegger vetoed the Assembly bill Monday evening. He explained Tuesday that the bill targeted potential cuts in the fiscal year that begins in July, but he wants those cuts to be made in the current fiscal year.
"I know this is very tough," Schwarzenegger said. "I know this is difficult for some of the programs that we have—education, higher education, health care and so on—but we have to make those cuts, because we don't have the money to pay for those things."
In January, Schwarzenegger called the Legislature into a special session to slash the state's deficit by $8.9 billion, primarily through cuts to public schools, higher education and social services. But Democrats refused to make the deeper cuts he requested.