Democratic Senate Leader Darrell Steinberg said Governor Jerry Brown and the California legislature aren't too far apart on a budget deal. The state faces a 16 billion dollar deficit ahead of next Friday's legislative deadline.
"There is agreement, I would say, on - well, what's fourteen out of sixteen? Whatever percentage that is - you know, on ninety percent," said Steinberg.
Steinberg also said the areas of disagreement include the governor's proposed cuts to welfare, child care, college financial aid and in-home care. That's why hundreds of care workers and their clients rallied outside the Capitol Thursday, including union leader Rob Robbins.
"If you are going to spend five times as much to take people out of their homes and put them in an institution, that is not adding up!" exclaimed Robbins while attending the rally.
Legislative Republicans are not involved in the negotiations because Democrats don't need their votes to pass a budget.
