Calif. lawmaker to sue Schwarzenegger over vetoes

One of California's top lawmakers said Friday he will file a lawsuit next week against Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger over what he considers illegal vetoes of funding for social service programs.

Senate leader Darrell Steinberg, a Democrat, said he will challenge the Republican governor's decision to cut an additional $489 million from the programs as part of the budget process.

Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, the other Democratic leader in the Legislature, is considering joining Steinberg's suit, said Shannon Murphy, a spokeswoman for Bass.

Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear said the administration was confident the governor would prevail in a court challenge.

"Because the legislature failed to send him a balanced budget after months of debate the governor was forced to make these difficult cuts," McLear said.

Steinberg said the governor overstepped his constitutional authority last month when he made more cuts to the Legislature's revised spending plan. Schwarzenegger did not tell the four legislative leaders he would make additional cuts when he struck an agreement with them, Steinberg said.

Lawmakers took a number of steps to address a steep budget deficit, including program cuts, shifting money from other areas and accelerating tax collections. The solutions totaled $24.2 billion.

Before signing the budget package last month, the governor made additional cuts to child welfare programs, health care for the poor and AIDS prevention efforts. He also reduced state parks funding.

"Taking another whack out of the most vulnerable Californians is wrong," Steinberg said. "Most significantly, it violates a separation of powers principles of the California constitution."

Steinberg said he plans to file the lawsuit in San Francisco County Superior Court.