Twelve days.
That's how long Gov. Jerry Brown has to sign or veto the majority-vote budget lawmakers passed yesterday under threat of docked pay.
Democrats say the measures close a $9.6 billion deficit. Controller John Chiang, who is keeper of the state payroll, hasn't yet said whether the bills meet his standard for a balanced budget.
The majority party left open the possibility that Brown might cut a deal with Republicans on tax extensions and a tax election.
But as Kevin Yamamura and Torey Van Oot report in today's Bee, the governor faces long odds, given that he hasn't been able to do so since January. Not to mention that some Democrats and their union allies are hoping any bipartisan deal will prove elusive.
Whatever his thoughts are on the matter, Brown has scheduled a news conference in Los Angeles shortly after noon.
Meanwhile, the latest Field Poll finds that a slim majority of California voters support Brown's plan to transfer lower-risk inmates from prisons to county jails, and that less than a majority would support a tax extension to pay for it.
Sam Stanton reports on the poll's findings in today's Bee.
Click here for the poll, and click here for the statistical tabulations exclusive to Capitol Alert.
CAKE AND CANDLES: Assemblyman Allan Mansoor, R-Costa Mesa, turns 47 today.
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