Legislature Puts Off California Budget Vote
SACRAMENTO (KCBS) - Budget talks are continuing in Sacramento between Governor Jerry Brown and a group of five Republicans, who could hold the key to putting the governor's plan before voters in June.
A vote by the legislature was scheduled for Thursday, but it has been put off until at least next Monday.
Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg had previously insisted that he would call for a floor vote on the budget package, even though he didn't have the two Republican votes needed to win a two-thirds majority.
But now, he wants to give Governor Brown more time, and said he sees some progress in negotiations with the GOP.
KCBS' Doug Sovern Reports:
"This morning, I woke up feeling pretty optimistic," Steinberg said.
The Republicans want to reform the public pension system and make other changes they've been fighting for, for years.
But Steinberg is warning them not to push their demands too far.
"Don't overplay it. The people elected Jerry Brown, not Meg Whitman. The people returned strong Democratic majorities to the legislature," said Steinberg. "The people elected five Democrats as statewide officeholders. So there has to be some reason here."
Steinberg has told senators to be on call through the weekend, but he hopes to bring the plan to a vote early next week. The goal of Steinberg and Governor Brown is to hold a special election on the budget on June 7.
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