In a conference call with The Bee's editorial board this afternoon, Senate leader Darrell Steinberg explained why a promising budget deal with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger blew up today.
Steinberg said that he and governor were close to resolving differences over the governor's economic stimulus proposals and budget cuts. That wasn't the big holdup, Steinberg said. Instead, he suggested, the governor was getting "cold feet" on a plan by Democrats to raise taxes and fees without a two-thirds vote by lawmakers. Here's his full comment:
Jake Suski, a spokesman for the governor, declined to comment on whether the governor has changed his position on the Democrats' revenue plan or is making progress with Republicans. But Suski said it was telling that Democrats now plan to send the governor a budget package that is unchanged from three weeks ago, despite his veto threat. He said the governor would have something to say about that tomorrow.
Update: Suski, an an email, says the Governor's position has not changed on the Democrats' budget package. "The reasons to veto this proposal that the Governor laid out in his press conference on December 18th remain the same," he writes.
Steinberg said that he and governor were close to resolving differences over the governor's economic stimulus proposals and budget cuts. That wasn't the big holdup, Steinberg said. Instead, he suggested, the governor was getting "cold feet" on a plan by Democrats to raise taxes and fees without a two-thirds vote by lawmakers. Here's his full comment:
Between Sunday night and Monday, something else occurred unrelated to the specifics of the issues. It is cold feet, you know. He met with Republican leaders on Monday morning. I think he is back in that place where he believes he can get Republican votes for revenue and therefore doesn't have to do this unorthodox majority vote thing. We have been sort of going down that road for five or six years. It hasn't resulted in a single vote.
Jake Suski, a spokesman for the governor, declined to comment on whether the governor has changed his position on the Democrats' revenue plan or is making progress with Republicans. But Suski said it was telling that Democrats now plan to send the governor a budget package that is unchanged from three weeks ago, despite his veto threat. He said the governor would have something to say about that tomorrow.
Update: Suski, an an email, says the Governor's position has not changed on the Democrats' budget package. "The reasons to veto this proposal that the Governor laid out in his press conference on December 18th remain the same," he writes.
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