Governor Off to Asia, Still No Budget

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCBS)_ Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says he will go on a trade mission to Asia early next month even if there is still no agreement on a new state budget.

Governor Schwarzenegger will leave September 9th for his six-day trip to China, Japan and South Korea.

The governor's spokesman Aaron McLear says the trip is too important to put off just because lawmakers have not delivered on a budget.

"The governor has been on time. The governor put his budget out in January and revised that budget in May. He has done his job and for whatever reason Senator Steinberg and the legislature have once again not done their job and failed to produce the budget," says McLear.

San Jose State professor and KCBS political analyst Larry Gerston says the governor could be trying to use the trip for leverage.

However, Gerston doesn't think this issue will seal the deal on getting a state budget delivered, but he does foresee one going through by September 9th.

Meanwhile, Senate leader Darrell Steinberg tells the Sacramento Bee the trip is a positive sign that the governor thinks a deal can be struck before he goes on vacation.

The budget stalemate has continued all summer as California faces a $19 billion deficit.