Sadly, the Governor vetoed AB 2302 (Judiciary), legislation that would have provided language interpreters for court users who require language assistance to nagivate the court system on civil matters.

His veto message reads:

To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am returning Assembly Bill 2302 without my signature.

The state has made significant progress towards eliminating the structural deficit. However, the state must continue to exercise fiscal discipline and limit the growth of state government in order to eliminate the projected deficit in 2007-08 and the future. While it is essential to provide non-English speaking litigants with interpreters in order to provide meaningful access to our justice system, this bill would impair our ability to eliminate the structural deficit. There are many worthwhile programs that compete for General Fund dollars. However, now is not the time to expand programs that significantly increase the expenditure of General Fund dollars at a time the State is moving to eliminate its structural deficit.

For these reasons I am unable to sign this bill.

Sincerely,

Arnold Schwarzenegger