California IN BRIEF : SACRAMENTO : Override of Veto on Mental Health Fails

An effort to override Gov. George Deukmejian’s veto of $15 million in mental health aid failed in the Assembly. The 45-24 vote fell well short of the two-thirds majority of 54. The attempt was squelched by the same Republican defense of the governor that has safeguarded every Deukmejian veto since he took office in January, 1983. Democrats hold a 46-33 majority with one vacancy. The bill would have restored $15 million in financing for community mental health programs. Defending the veto, Deukmejian said the $1.1-million rainy-day reserve in this year’s budget already has been cut in half by earthquake-related costs and revenue revisions. He also said state mental health spending has increased from $630 million to $1.25 billion since 1983, and community mental health aid has doubled to $793 million.