Free Republic

Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata said today that Democrats have negotiated key points of a compromise state budget with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and that he considers negotiations over. "I think we've, frankly, gone about as far as we can go," the Oakland Democrat said. Perata said the compromise plan includes a major concession by Democrats - a spending cap to limit annual state expenditures. Republicans have been insisting on a spending cap as part of any budget pact. "The question continues to be, are there Republican votes for it?" Perata said of the compromise plan. The ball is in...