CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : SACRAMENTO : Deukmejian Vetoes Mental Health Bill

Citing budgetary constraints, Gov. George Deukmejian vetoed legislation to restore $15 million he cut out in funding for community mental health programs. The governor said it was “inappropriate” to place additional demands on a budget whose $1 billion reserve has been cut in half by expenses related to the Northern California earthquake. Deukmejian noted that he allowed a bill to restore $20 million for family-planning services to become law in late January without his signature. At that time, he challenged the lawmakers to reduce expenditures in next year’s budget.