The leader of the California Senate, Darrell Steinberg said Friday he would sue Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for exercising vetoes to hack about $500 million in spending for social service programs.

Speaking on the topic, Darrell Steinberg said, "We elected a governor, not an emperor."

Steinberg further said that the cuts, which would affect needy children, patients and disabled, were unconstitutional.

It should be noted here that Schwarzenegger took a number of steps to cover the $24 billion budget deficit.

Before signing the budget package last month Schwarzenegger made additional cuts on health care programs including AIDS, child welfare programs and park funding.

Chief Counsel for the Department of Finance, Jennifer Rockwell has described the vetoes as legal, while Legislative counsel Diane Boyer-Vine said that the vetoes were unconstitutional.

Earlier in March, State Controller John Chiang dragged Schwarzenegger to court in a case relating forced furloughs.