Republicans Press Calif. Gov. Brown for Budget Deal

California Republican lawmakers continue pushing Gov. Jerry Brown on a budget deal, forcing Democrats to delay a vote planned for Wednesday, the Sacramento Bee reported Thursday.

"Hard decisions are called for, and we're going to try to make those decisions as responsibly as we can," said state Sen. Sam Blakeslee, a Republican of San Luis Obispo. "But we want to make sure that voters have all the right choices before them on the ballot if that . . . if we get to that point. But it's not clear we're at that point."

Blakeslee is a member of a group of five GOP lawmakers negotiating with Brown, and said they may consider a proposal by the governor to extend taxes that are set to expire to close a $26.6 billion budget deficit. However, the group of Republican this week demanded changes in pensions, regulatory and other government programs.

Blakeslee said it’s "premature to make any particular predictions" on whether a deal will happen.
Brown has indicated he may have to compromise with the Republicans to get a budget passed.