California lawmakers have missed the constitutional deadline to pass a state budget again. They were supposed to have a deal in place by Sunday. But, as Marianne Russ reports from Sacramento, they're not even close.
It's been more than 20 years since lawmakers passed a budget by the June 15th deadline. The last time was 1986. Now they're looking forward to a more pressing date: July 1st, when the new fiscal year begins. Democratic Assembly Speaker Karen Bass says she's hopeful they'll reach that:
Bass: "Well you know what, if I don't set it as a goal and don't try, then I won't get there."
But Democratic Senate Leader Don Perata says July 1st is already out of the question.
Perata: "I want to be honest and be realistic. We're going to have this on the Governor's desk by the first of August."
That's when the State Controller has warned the state could run out of cash. But the battle of the wills over how to fill the $15 billion budget gap is already in full force. Democrats are calling for billions in new taxes. Republicans strongly oppose any tax increases. Republican Assembly Leader Mike Villines says it's likely to be a long, hot summer.
Villines: "And my fear is, if we don't do it by August 1st, there is no deadline to worry about. People can get entrenched and then we're in real trouble."
Last year, lawmakers passed a state budget on August 21, nearly two months late.
