Brown Pitches Budget Plan, Tax Hikes To Businesses
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Gov. Jerry Brown is reaching out to the business community as he continues to push for a balanced budget that includes extending temporary increases to California's sales, income and vehicle taxes.
Brown told a breakfast gathering of about 1,200 business leaders Thursday that he is pushing back against fellow Democrats, who want to spend without considering the state's financial problems. But he also urged conservative-leaning business leaders to consider those who rely on state-funded social programs.
Brown has signed about $11.2 billion in cuts and fund transfers, but the state still faces a $9.6 billion budget shortfall through June 2012.
The governor joked that he was surprised by supportive comments from the GOP-leaning California Chamber of Commerce. He needs two Republican votes in each house for his budget plan.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
