Governor Jerry Brown kicked off a budget public relations blitz Tuesday. Over the course of two days, he’s meeting separately with each of the Republican and Democratic caucuses – four gatherings in all.
The Governor said he’s hearing concerns from Democrats about deep cuts and from Republicans about his proposed tax extensions. Brown said after years of budgets that didn’t hold up, lawmakers need to face reality.
“They did not present an honest budget because it was too hard, too painful and so I think avoidance is the first choice” Brown said. “But it’s not the choice we’re going to choose.”
Brown’s plan to close the state’s $25 billion budget gap includes billions in cuts to most areas of government and asks voters to approve an extension of three tax increases. He’s up against a March deadline to put that measure on the ballot.
Brown is also scheduled to talk with the Los Angeles-area Chamber of Commerce about his budget plan later this week.
