Influential Business Group Backs Gov. Brown's Budget, Tax Extensions
SACRAMENTO (KCBS/AP) - The Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce endorses Gov. Jerry Brown's $27 billion budget, including a provision that would put tax extensions before voters, the governor's office announced Friday.
The Democratic governor needs the support of at least four Republican lawmakers to hold a special election in June on the tax extensions, but so far no Republicans have signed on to the plan.
KCBS' Melissa Culross Reports:
Brown said he hopes the endorsement will lead to more support from other business leaders and from labor unions.
"They have allied business organizations around the state and what this does is it furthers the discussion," he said.
The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce has not taken a position on Brown's proposal, but a spokesperson said the chamber would accept tax extensions if they were tied to budgetary reform.
Brown's proposal includes a variety of spending cuts to close the deficit. Under his plan, voters would decide on a five-year extension of increases to state sales, income and vehicle taxes.
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