Schwarzenegger to address lawmakers, will ask them for quick deal to solve $24B shortfall

Schwarzenegger to appeal for quick budget deal

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is ready to urge lawmakers to deal quickly with California’s enormous deficit.

The governor planned to address the Legislature Tuesday in an unusual midyear appearance.

The state faces a deficit of $24.3 billion for the coming fiscal year.

Controller John Chiang has warned that California will run out of money to pay its bills on July 29.

Schwarzenegger has outlined a series of cuts that include making an additional $5.2 billion reduction in funds to public schools, laying off 5,000 state workers, eliminating welfare for 500,000 families, terminating health coverage for nearly 1 million low-income children and closing 220 state parks.