Calif. Gov. signs budget

Gov. Jerry Brown signed the bill shortly before a midnight deadline. The legislature also passed a measure that kills the Healthy Families medical insurance program and moves nearly 900,000 low-income children to Medi-Cal.

Los Angeles Times: Jerry Brown Signs Budget That Relies On Voter-Backed Tax Hikes
The tax question isn't the only one hanging over the new budget, which takes effect Sunday. Republicans are threatening to withhold votes need to extend a fee on health care providers, and a controversy over how aggressively the state can scoop up money from defunct redevelopment agencies could lead to a legal faceoff with local governments (Megerian, 6/28).

The Associated Press: California Governor Signs Budget Relying On Taxes
Gov. Jerry Brown signed a new budget for California on Wednesday that relies heavily on voters approving his proposed tax hikes in November. … Democratic leaders have agreed to deeper cuts to satisfy the governor's demands, including restructuring the state's welfare program, streamlining health insurance for low-income children, and reducing child care coverage and college aid (Lin, 6/28).

KQED:  Health Insurance For Low-Income Kids On Chopping Block
State lawmakers today voted to kill Healthy Families -- a medical insurance program that serves some 900,000 children from low-income families.  Those kids will now be shifted over to the Medi-Cal system, which already serves nearly four million of the state's poorest children.  The move is part of the budget compromise that will save the state an estimated $13 million this year -- although the savings are expected to grow to $73 million by 2015 (Siler, 6/27).

California Healthline: Health Programs Take A Hit In Legislature
The California Legislature yesterday passed two budget trailer bills calling for relatively rapid changes in California's Healthy Families program. Although many organizations and health advocates opposed the two bills, most Democratic legislators voted for them. The bills call for a four-phase, one-year transition of enrollees in the Healthy Families Program to Medi-Cal managed care plans. Children's health advocates lobbied unsuccessfully for a slower transition. The Healthy Families changes are part of the state's plan to cut more than $1 billion from health related programs to pare down a $15.7 billion deficit (Edlin, 6/28).