California Budget Compromise Keeps Schools from Hiring Private Landscaping Contractors

After a 26-day standoff, California lawmakers and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger have finally reached a compromise of sorts with an estimated $103 billion budget plan.

Both Californian Democrats and Republicans have come to agreement but the plan still needs approval from two-thrids of the Legislature.

To reach agreement both sides reliquished some of their original initiatives for the budget. This includes Republicans letting go of their hopes to revise a 2002 law that largely prohibits schools from hiring private landscaping companies. In exchange they got an agreement to change a law signed by Gov. Gray Davis' administration last year that allows workers to sue their employers over labor code violations.

While proponents call the budget plan "balanced," it calls for borrowing $5 billion and at least $1.5 billion in accounting gimmicks and savings that may not come to fruition.