Brown Urges Lawmakers To 'Man Up' On Budget Talks

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Gov. Jerry Brown warned Friday that the state's budget shortfall may be larger than predicted and called on state lawmakers to "man up" and pass his proposed spending cuts.

During an interview with San Francisco radio station KGO, the Democratic governor said the state budget deficit will likely exceed the $9.2 billion shortfall his administration predicted earlier this year.

He urged lawmakers in the Democratically-controlled Legislature to approve the billions of dollars in cuts he proposed in January, including additional rollbacks to social service programs. Brown had asked that cuts be enacted by March, but lawmakers are determined to wait until he releases his revised budget in May.

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

The comment recalled one by former Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, when he mocked lawmakers as "girlie men" during a 2004 budget standoff.

The Legislature's Democrats reaffirmed their intention Friday to put off the budget debate until they see the governor's revised budget, which will include the latest tax revenue.

"Our position hasn't changed," said Alicia Trost, spokeswoman for Senate Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento. "It is important to have a clear picture of exactly what we are facing."

Earlier this week, the state controller said tax revenue in March was 4.2 percent behind the estimates in the governor's budget proposal. John Vigna, a spokesman for Assembly Speaker John Perez, D-Los Angeles, said the Legislature has consistently done its duty to balance the budget.

"When you talk to social service groups, they know that the Legislature has made many deep cuts over the last year," he said.

Vigna said Democratic lawmakers were unlikely to be offended by Brown's "man up" comment, given the governor's off-the-cuff speaking style.

"He's certainly known for his colorful rhetoric throughout the years," he said. "This is Jerry Brown, and people understand that."

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.)