Capitol Alert

Gov. Jerry Brown said this morning that the Legislature should "man up" and make spending cuts, acknowledging the state budget deficit is likely larger than he previously thought.

The Democratic governor, in an interview on the Bay Area talk radio station KGO 810, said the deficit is "probably bigger now" than the $9.2 billion he estimated earlier this year.

"We're trying to be as prudent as we can," Brown said. "That's why the Legislature has to man up, make the cuts, and get some taxes and we'll make it."

Legislative Democrats have resisted many of Brown's proposals to reduce spending, and his demand that cuts be enacted by March fell flat.

Brown's "man up" remark was reminiscent of when Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called legislative Democrats "girlie men" in 2004, also in a budget dispute.

"Uh-oh ..." Aaron McLear, Schwarzenegger's former press secretary, said on Twitter, "sounds a lot like 'Girly Men.'"

Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher received oodles of media attention when he left the Republican Party and re-registered as an independent amidst his campaign for mayor of San Diego.

And it may be paying off.

A San Diego television station reported Thursday that its poll shows Fletcher jumping from third place in the race to succeed Mayor Jerry Sanders into a solid second, just two percentage points behind City Councilman Carl DeMaio, a Republican, with Democratic Rep. Bob Filner dropping into third place.

They and other candidates face a June 5 primary. If none gets more than 50 percent, the top two vote-getters will appear in a runoff election in November.

PHOTO CREDIT: Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, R-San Diego, speaks during the Assembly session on Jan. 30, 2012. (AP Photo/ Rich Pedroncelli, File)

VIDEO: Dan Walters says state officials are keeping a close watch on tax returns this year.

Have a question you'd like Dan to answer? Post it on our Facebook page.

See other Dan Walters Daily clips here.

Read Dan Walters' columns here.

In today's video report, Dan Walters details the $9.1 billion in tax revenue -- billion with a B -- that California is hoping to take in this month. Will that money come in?

Gov. Jerry Brown takes to the airwaves this morning, appearing on KGO Newstalk 810's "The Ronn Owens Program," starting at 9 a.m. Click here to listen live. You'll find information about Owens and his program at this link.

Members of the California Federation of Teachers will also be in the Bay Area, meeting in San Jose today through Sunday at its 70th annual convention. The agenda includes campaign strategy for the union's compromise ballot tax measure with the governor.

Back in Sacramento, the Legislative Analyst's Office is releasing a report examining budget reductions to the state's judicial branch as well as Brown's proposals for more cuts. That report will be available online at the LAO's website starting at 3 p.m.

Down in the south state, the legislative conference committee on public employee pensions looks at pension reform, the County Employees' Retirement Law of 1937, and statewide policies on pension benefits for elected officials. (Legislators first elected after November 1990 don't get pension benefits.)

Legislative Republicans have called for the committee to vote on Brown's pension reform proposals, which Republicans have put word for word into two measures, as Jon Ortiz reported earlier this week over at sister blog The State Worker.

That hearing runs from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Chaffey College Community Center, 5890 College Park Avenue, Room 101, in Chino. It will be streamed live online at this link.

An Assembly select committee, meanwhile, heads to Fresno City Council Chambers for a hearing from 1 to 4 p.m. on health and success for boys and men of color.

CAKE AND CANDLES: Assemblyman David Valadao, R-Hanford, turns 35 on Saturday.

MEMORIAL: The Sacramento Bee is inviting fans of the late cartoonist Rex Babin to join family, friends and colleagues for a celebration of his life. The free public event is 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Constitutional Wall Courtyard between the California Museum and the secretary of state's office at 1020 O St. The event includes a silent auction of several of his cartoons, as well as a multimedia display. Proceeds will go to a scholarship fund set up for Rex and Kathleen Babin's 10-year-old son, Sebastian. Click here for more information.