Yesterday the “California Assembly narrowly passed a plan Monday to cut the state corrections budget by $1 billion, despite Republican lawmakers who assailed the measure as a threat to public safety.” Before legislative leaders adjourn next week they have to make more cuts to the prison budget to close the last piece of the state’s revised spending plan.

Last week, Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger accused Assembly members of “lacking ‘the guts’ to join the Senate in approving a comprehensive plan.”