Calif. Approaches Two Months Without Budget

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCBS) - Tomorrow will mark two months since the state's budget was due, and California still doesn't have one.

There's little hope in Sacramento that a deal will be struck this week, even though a vote on two competing financial plans is scheduled.

Meanwhile, California is racking up billions of dollars in unpaid bills. And while lawmakers say they will try to break their impasse, few in Sacramento seem optimistic.

Incoming Senate Republican leader Bob Dutton blames the Democratic majority.

"The reality is they've wasted so much time that we've missed a lot of good opportunities," he claimed. "Back last February, when we should have enacted the governor's budget at that time, we would have saved a lot more money. Additional cuts, now, will have to be made just because of their lack of action."

San Francisco state sen. Leland Yee, however, maintains that Republicans want to make draconian cuts to welfare programs.

Tomorrow, lawmakers will vote on that plan, as well as the Democrats' plan, which is described as a complicated combination of taxes, fees, and budget cuts.

At least it's still a beginning of a process where we're going to finally now debate the two budgets, as we have them right now," Yee explained."

Neither plan to close the $19 billion deficit has enough votes to pass, meaning California may have to start issuing IOUs again soon, since it can't pay its bills without a budget.