Schools statewide will send out layoff notices late this week, and Governor Schwarzenegger is urging lawmakers to come up with a budget plan right away.
Schwarzenegger has proposed a ten percent cut to education, and districts are required to notify teachers they could be laid off by Mach 15th. Schwarzenegger says he and legislative leaders could come up with a budget solution before that.
Schwarzenegger: All we have to do is lock ourselves in a room for three days and not go outside and not even be allowed to go to the bathroom and they will be getting upset because it will start smelling in the room a little bit, and then they will come to an agreement. You see, I am for coming to an agreement before March 15, so we know exactly which way to go.
A budget is supposed to be in place by the new fiscal year in July, but even that rarely happens. Democrats have taken a hard line against cutting education, and have instead proposed tax increases.
The Governor has said everything should be considered. Republican lawmakers say they won't support any new taxes.
