Schwarzenegger, Lawmakers Cancel Budget Meeting
SACRAMENTO (AP) - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders have canceled their scheduled budget talks, continuing a record-long impasse over enacting a state spending plan.
Closed-door negotiations had been scheduled for Tuesday afternoon until the governor's office released a message saying that no such meeting would take place.
Schwarzenegger's press secretary, Aaron McLear, said in a statement that "staff will continue to work through issues."
Earlier in the day, McLear said unions were stalling the budget negotiations by attempting to block a rollback of pension benefits. It is one of the reforms Schwarzenegger has demanded in exchange for his signature on a budget bill.
Last Thursday, the governor's office and key lawmakers said they had reached the "framework" for an agreement.
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