SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - The Latest on the California state budget (all times local):
5:30 p.m.
California lawmakers have introduced legislation that would allow up $465 million in higher payments for doctors and dentists who provide publicly funded care.
The proposal was outlined in a budget bill introduced on Monday and may reflect an agreement between Gov. Jerry Brown and top legislative leaders on a key sticking point in budget negotiations. But neither top lawmakers nor Brown commented on the proposal.
Senate and Assembly leaders scheduled press conferences to outline an expected deal with the governor, but they were repeatedly pushed back and eventually cancelled while negotiations continued. A budget bill has been introduced, giving it the necessary 72 hours of being public before lawmakers vote on it Thursday.
Doctors and dentists have pressured lawmakers to use a portion of $1.2 billion in tobacco tax revenue to increase the payments they get for treating Medi-Cal patients.
A spokeswoman for the California Medical Association says the legislation appears to raise more questions than it answers.
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12 a.m.
Californians will get three days to look over the final state budget before lawmakers take a vote this week, giving the public an unprecedented period to scour the spending plan ahead of a final decision.
The budget for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, will be the first since voters last year decided to require a 72-hour waiting period before a final vote on any legislation including the budget.
The spending plan must be locked down by Monday evening if lawmakers are to approve it by a Thursday deadline. The new rule has complicated budget talks for lawmakers and Gov. Jerry Brown, forcing them to negotiate on a compressed timeline, but also will give the public, lobbyists and even lawmakers more time to digest the plan.
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