Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger reversed himself today on a proposal to end health insurance coverage for families of police officers and firefighters who die in the line of duty.
In a meeting with the paper's editorial board, Schwarzenegger called the proposal, reported by The Times this week, a "terrible screw-up" and said it is being corrected.
The proposed cut was tucked away in a list of state laws, known as mandates, that would be suspended if Schwarzenegger's latest budget revisions are adopted. It would have saved the state $1 million.
The mandates put certain requirements, such as the survivor benefits, on local governments, but the state pays for them. Suspension of the listed mandates would save $100 million, according to the governor's estimate.
Schwarzenegger and lawmakers are trying to plug a projected $24-billion deficit. Among the other items the governor suggests suspending are absentee ballots for voters and programs for infants exposed to drugs. Those remain on the chopping block.
Linda Soubirous, who was 31 when her husband, a Riverside County sheriff's deputy, was shot and killed in 1993, offered "a big thank-you to Governor Schwarzenegger" for rolling back his proposal.
Soon after the death of her husband, the county refused to pay for her family's insurance. In 1996, the state required local governments to provide such benefits.
"I was worried about all of the young families, because unfortunately when this happens most of the families are very young, with children or infants," Soubirous said.
shane.goldmacher@latimes.com
