N?z: Santa Cruz County News Briefs

N?z: Santa Cruz County News Briefs.
Apparently pulling all-nighters doesn"t end with college. Members of the California State Assembly gulped down any stimulants in sight as they put what they thought were the finishing touches on the state budget in the wee hours of July 20. The Assembly approved the budget, which was over a month late, around 4am with a vote of 56-23. With procrastination like that, it"s a wonder any of these folks made it through finals week in college. Everyone let out a collective sigh of relief until the next morning, when Senate Republicans demanded more cuts be made to eliminate any deficit. With Democratic senators queasy about any further trimming, another budget deadlock was on. Republican lawmakers are drawing up an alternative proposal, and negotiations will restart on July 25. In spite of the negotiations, Nuz saw fit to sniff out a few of the consequences that, as of presstime, the Assembly version of the budget could have for Santa Cruz County.