California Assembly Speaker John Perez says Democratic lawmakers are very close to a budget compromise with Governor Jerry Brown. “I strongly believe that the differences between the Governor’s proposal and our proposal are bridgeable. Frankly, we’re not only on the same page as the Governor. We’re in the same paragraph.”
Democrats don’t want to cut as deeply into social programs as the Governor. For example, they’re rejecting Brown’s nearly $900 million welfare cut and proposing savings of about half as much.
Democrats are also calling for a reserve of about $500 million. That’s half of what the Governor has proposed.
Both houses of the legislature are set to vote on the Democratic plan Friday, the constitutional deadline to pass a budget. It’s unclear whether the Governor would sign that spending plan. His office stayed quiet today, saying only that “discussions are ongoing.”
