Posted on 08/01/2007 9:45:16 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Prospects for quickly ending the stalemate over the state's budget dimmed Wednesday as the Senate failed to pass the $145 billion spending plan, now 6 1/2 weeks overdue.
The budget bill failed 26-14, one vote short of the two-thirds majority needed for it to pass.
Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland, placed the responsibility on the chamber's minority Republicans, who have a long list of conditions they say need to be met.
"This is a Republican problem," he said after the failed vote. "It is going to have to be solved by Republicans."
Wednesday's vote came as the Senate met for the first time in 11 days and after state Controller John Chiang said he could not pay the $1.1 billion owed for July to community colleges, special education programs, nursing homes and vendors that contact with state government.
He said he will be unable to pay $2.1 billion due in August unless there is a budget agreement by the end of the month. A wait of weeks, rather than days, is looking increasingly likely.
Perata said he would not call the Senate back into session until Republicans could deliver the two GOP votes needed to send the budget to the governor. He said it's likely the chamber will not reconvene until Aug. 20, the end of the Legislature's summer recess.
Senate Minority Leader Dick Ackerman, R-Tustin, said his caucus was willing to keep working with Democrats and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a fellow Republican, to break the impasse. Republicans wanted the Senate to reconvene Thursday morning, but that motion failed.
"We're not going to settle for a budget that's half-baked," Ackerman said.
Hee hee hee. Can’t pay those community colleges.
$145 billion budget? Good Lord! Boy they’ve really cut that sucker to the bone huh.
The citizen of this state should invest in new rope and high branches...
...figuratively...
Arnold and his Liberal cronies are a California joke. Politicians at every level need to be dumped and we need to start over. Sorry Bill O’Reilly if that isn’t nice.
now now, it’s all the voters fault and prop 13 and all the mandated spending, yaknow ..
The state needs to be retooled from top to bottom, but.. unfortunately neither the will to do so or the resolve exists and it may well take a major calamity or insolvency to send that message to where enough folks wise-up.
It’s late in the game, this is just the latest skirmish. Stay tuned.
Yep. Couldn't agree more. Step aside son and we'll clean this up real fast. This is what happens when children try to do a grown-ups job. "Daddy, Daddy, come clean up my mess."
We need Tom!!!!!
There, fixed it. This budget is the problem of the over spending democrats,NOT a "republican" problem. This is the same tactic they used in the US budget process during Clintons first term, refuse to alter the budget and blame the republicans for not passing it.
The wailing has begun. Let the Gov write a check to cover the account...
Yes, we do and about 100 more just like Tom McC. When Arnold and the rest of the Liberals get done with CA, Tom can pull the handle and watch the state go down the drain.
If someone audited the State and cleaned up the graft and corruption, the budget would be balanced pronto. Same goes for the federal government.
Rule Number One for budget saber-rattling: always pretend that you have to cut the motherhood and apple pie stuff first.
CA: Senate budget vote fails as stalemate starts to cut into services
what lib/dem will ever vote to cut any program other than the military????
when they need more money for all the spending programs...they will just do what they always do....raise taxes!!!!
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Yeah and if pigs could fly.
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