Interest Groups Anxiously Await Budget Vote

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Parent groups, teachers, law enforcement officials and other interests are lobbying state lawmakers on the eve of Gov. Jerry Brown's deadline for calling a special election to extend temporary tax increases.

The Democratic governor says schools and public safety stand to benefit the most if lawmakers meet his request to extend higher sales, vehicle and income taxes for five years to raise $9.2 billion annually. He also has proposed cutting $12 billion.

Brown has said he needs the Legislature to act by Thursday to qualify the question for a June ballot.

Republicans say taxes are not the answer to the state's financial problems, but parent and teacher groups concerned about larger class sizes and a shorter school year are demanding they let Californians vote on the issue.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)