Opinion: Calif. preschool spending a big conflict
By Dan Walters, Sacramento Bee
In the broadest sense, this year’s version of the annual budget wrangle pits Gov. Jerry Brown, who wants to keep a lid on spending and build budget reserves, against his fellow Democrats in the Legislature, who want to spend more.
![Dan Walters](https://www.laketahoenews.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/dan-walters-150x150.jpg)
Dan Walters
The sharpest skirmish is likely to be over demands to ramp up spending on a confusing welter of “early childhood” programs that serve nearly a half-million children now and cost about $3.5 billion.
Brown proposes only token increases in spending on child care and preschool programs, while urging the Legislature to shift to a voucher system for the former and combine several programs into block grants for the latter.