State Budget Update: Legislators Seek Solutions To CalWORKs Stage 3 Child Care Shutdown On Nov. 1

Surrounded by children, parents and child care service providers during a press conference in downtown Los Angeles, Pérez noted that Democrats roundly rejected the governor's proposal to cut child care during budget negotiations.

"The governor's line-item vetoes were fiscally irresponsible and unnecessary," Perez said. "He has targeted a program that is a good investment for the state of California. Thousands of parents are able to work and provide for their families because they have child care options."

Pérez said it would cost roughly $60 million to extend the child care program through Jan. 1, after which the new Legislature could attempt to restore full funding. He has committed $6 million from the state Assembly's operating budget to extend the program through the holiday season. The speaker also requested that First 5 California and the 58 county commissions, including First 5 LA, aid in the temporary backfill.

The governor and legislators are already counting on First 5 funding to provide more than $130 million this year to ailing state programs that received drastic cuts last year. Approximately $50 million in First 5 funding is allocated to the Department of Developmental Services' Early Start program, while the state's Healthy Families program is expected to receive another $82 million from First 5 California.

"Governor Schwarzenegger's decision to gut CalWORKs and other programs is a devastating blow to working families," said Evelyn V. Martinez, chief executive officer of First 5 LA. "We are committed to doing what we can to help out during this difficult time. We also look to Assembly Speaker Pérez and the other members of the California Legislature to provide long-term solutions that do not take First 5 funding away from local children's programs."

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