Assembly GOP Proposes Budget With No Tax Increases
SACRAMENTO (AP) — Republican state lawmakers say Gov. Jerry Brown does not need tax extensions to fill California's remaining deficit.
Assembly Republicans released a proposal Thursday that seeks to bridge the state's $15.4 billion deficit in part by making deeper cuts to the poor and asking state workers to take another pay cut equal to 15 percent of their salaries. Republican lawmakers also want to raid funds dedicated to early childhood development and mental health programs.
GOP lawmakers are getting ahead of the Democratic governor, who is scheduled to release an updated version of his budget Monday.
Brown wants to extend recent increases to the sales, income and vehicle taxes to avoid deeper cuts.
Republicans are predicting that an improving economy should be enough to maintain current levels of education funding.
(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
