Reporting from Sacramento — Lawmakers are set today to vote on a plan to plug California's $24-billion budget deficit, despite predictions from leaders of both parties that it won't pass.
Legislative leaders were saying even before the first vote was cast that key provisions of the Democrat-crafted proposal -- in particular, tax hikes on the oil and tobacco industries -- will almost certainly fail to garner the necessary two-thirds approval.
That level of support requires the votes of several Republicans in each house.
"In all likelihood we're probably not going to get them," said Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento).
A spokesman for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger criticized Democrats for even bothering.
"All legislators are doing is running a drill, and the time for drills is over," said Matt David, the governor's communications director.
Schwarzenegger has pushed for deep cuts to health and welfare programs, education and prisons -- including the elimination of some programs altogether.
If today's attempts to pass the Democrats' plan flops as anticipated, legislative leaders and Schwarzenegger are expected to gather behind closed doors in coming days to negotiate a compromise.
State officials say that without a solid budget, California government could run out of cash by late July.
eric.bailey@latimes.com
Times staff writer Shane Goldmacher contributed to this report.
