From the Associated Press:
Bringing an end to the state's longest-ever budget fight, California lawmakers approved changes to their $143 billion spending plan and gave in to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's demands for a more robust rainy day fund.
Still, the governor said elected officials failed to fix California's ongoing fiscal imbalance that allows the state to spend more money than it takes in.
"There's nothing to really celebrate," Schwarzenegger said at the Capitol Friday. "As I said, great things were accomplished, but there are certain things that were not accomplished."
Democrats, who hold a majority in the Legislature and had proposed tax increases to help fill the state's $15.2 billion shortfall, countered that it was the governor who lacked leadership.
California is one of three states that require a two-thirds vote to pass a budget. Democrats needed a handful of Republican votes in both houses to accomplish the task.
"The real question was, could we have done any better without a tax? The answer was no," said Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata. "The governor couldn't get anybody to support his tax in his party. Republicans had the final say. They said no."
Schwarzenegger said he will sign the compromise plan next week, allowing California to resume payments to schools, medical clinics and state vendors that haven't been paid since the July 1 start of the fiscal year.
The governor said he was pleased legislative leaders agreed to stronger controls on the state's rainy day fund and gave him the authority to make spending cuts during the year.
