Calif. nurses group sues over relaxed staffing law

The California Nurses Association is suing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, arguing that Schwarzenegger violated the state Constitution in seeking an emergency regulation to relax the state's landmark nurse-to-patient staffing law. Schwarzenegger won the regulation in November. The lawsuit, filed in Superior Court in Sacramento, also named state Health and Human Services Secretary Kim Belshe and Department of Health Services Director Sandra Shewry. The CNA alleged that Schwarzenegger's move wrongly usurped the authority of the state Legislature to make laws. -- by Melanie Evans