One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
Governor Brown remains hopeful for California budget deal
File photo: California Governor Jerry Brown looks on before delivering the State of the State address at the California State Capitol on January 31, 2011 in Sacramento, California.
(
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
)
Listen
Governor Brown remains hopeful for California budget deal
California Governor Jerry Brown this week continues his campaign for Republican support of his tax hike proposal. The governor remains hopeful, even as time runs out to place his measure on the June ballot.
Governor Brown sounds optimistic.
“I see everything as an opportunity here. That’s the idea; crisis – opportunity.”
California faces a $26 billion deficit. Brown’s proposed roughly $12 billion in spending cuts.
He also wants temporary tax hikes extended for five years. That would generate $14 billion next year. Republicans say no to any tax increases.
“Yes, there are some no, no, no folks in the Republican Party," said Brown. "But there’s also some yes, yes, yes Republicans. And we’re waiting to hear from them.”
He declined to identify who they might be in the state legislature. But outside of it, he won important backing from the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce – including its Republican chairman Joe Czyzyk.
Sponsored message
Brown’s indicated he may be willing to expand pension reform to win GOP support
“We can certainly take steps in pension reform. We can take steps in regulatory reform," he said after his chamber endorsement last week. "How that all interacts, that will be a matter of working it out in the Legislature.”
The governor needs Republican votes to secure the two-thirds majority in the Legislature he’ll need to place his plan on the June ballot.
Or does he?
Some experts believe that because he wants to extend existing tax increases rather than create new tax hikes, Brown may need only a majority. And Democrats already have that.
“I’ve looked at it. I have not come to a conclusion as yet," Brown said.
He said he’d prefer GOP support.
Sponsored message
As he talked up his plan last week, Brown hauled out some Latin – as he’s fond of doing.
“Ignota per indosius," he said. "That means to understand the known by the even more unknown.”
The governor said that means the Legislature shouldn’t fiddle too much with his budget proposal.
“To seek an agreement that is complicated by fashioning an even more complicated agreement has a lot of problems with it.”
One more thing, added the former Jesuit seminarian and veteran negotiator:
“Everything’s important, and nothing’s in stone.”
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
