SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- California lawmakers were stymied Monday in their frustrating search for one more vote to approve a $42 billion budget-balancing plan state leaders say is needed to stave off fiscal disaster.
The stalled effort prompted Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to make good on an earlier promise to begin the layoff process for thousands of state workers, though under the state's process it would take months for anyone to actually be laid off.
Lawmakers were in session for a state-record 30 hours before disbanding Sunday night, with many of them looking haggard and worn out after a futile attempt to secure the necessary votes.
They regrouped Monday, but the expected budget votes kept getting pushed back.
"We are waiting for one senator to step up," said Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles. "This is absolutely ridiculous for this to go on any longer."
By Monday night, Senate leader Darrell Steinberg announced that lawmakers had failed to find the final vote in his chamber as Republicans refused to support more than $14 billion in tax increases. He called a session for Tuesday morning and said he would put the tax provisions of the budget proposal up for a vote, even if they would not pass.
Steinberg said the Senate would remain in session for as long as necessary to pass the budget. He told lawmakers, "Bring a toothbrush."
Lawmakers have been trying to pass a combination of spending cuts, tax hikes and additional borrowing negotiated by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and leaders of both parties, who warn that California faces insolvency unless the Legislature enacts a midyear budget fix to close the projected $42 billion budget shortfall through June 2010.
The plan continues to fall short of votes because rank-and-file Republicans have refused to agree to $14.4 billion in higher taxes. Lawmakers believe there are enough GOP votes in the Assembly, but the Senate has fallen short by one.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/02/16/california-lawmakers-try-approve-billion-budget-plan/For those of you living in California how bad has it been there? I think this is what we are going to see on the federal level.
