Now, everyone knows a budget is always larger than it will finally be voted on. So there really isn't any surprises here to realize complaints are beginning already. It is to be expected in a political environment that has been tainted by hysterical Republicans trying to keep their gains of 2010.
It didn't take long Wednesday for the state's partisan budget battle to reignite.
Fresh off a new Legislative Analyst's Office report that paves the way for mid-year cuts in education and social services, Democrats called for additional taxes and Republicans said lawmakers must rein in spending. The report also pegs the state's deficit at nearly $13 billion through June 2013.
The Assembly's Democratic budget chairman, Bob Blumenfield, said in a statement that the analyst's report "acknowledges that we made great progress last year but validates the need to raise revenues to finish what we started."
"We need solutions that protect education, create jobs and put California on the path to stability," he added. "That can't be achieved through cuts alone or by one party governing alone. New revenues can prevent cuts that shock the conscience, hurt our economy and compromise our morals as a civilized society."
His GOP budget counterpart, Assemblyman Jim Nielsen, R-Gerber, countered by saying taxes are unnecessary....
