No sooner had legislative Democrats and Republicans resolved the 52-day state budget impasse than Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata went before to cameras to exult, “Thank God this is over with..."

The nearly two-month standoff over the state budget this summer certainly took a toll: It delayed millions of dollars owed to nursing homes and community colleges, and strained relations between Senate Democrats and Republicans so badly that one legislative leader openly doubted whether they'll be able to accomplish much of anything in the coming weeks and months...

California might be run by an action-hero-turned-governor, but there were few action heroes in Sacramento on Tuesday by the time the 52-day state budget impasse ended with agreement for a $145 billion spending plan...

The Internal Revenue Service administers the largest cash or near-cash anti-poverty program in the country...