Senate leader Don Perata scratched plans for a Tuesday floor vote on the state budget today, saying negotiations were moving forward and the vote "would disrupt that progress."
Perata had called for a vote last week, citing the looming cash crunch facing the state.
"I know the state is facing a cash crunch, and I am doing everything possible to pass a budget that fixes the state's fiscal problems, which every year (gets) worse," Perata said in a statement.
He reiterated the Democrats' opposition to borrowing or other temporary solutions.
"It's painful - but it's time to stop shunting our responsibility off to 'next year,'" the Oakland Democrat said.
Democrats have proposed raising more than $9 billion in taxes to help balance the state's budget, which faces a $15.2 billion deficit. Republicans, however, have made clear that they would vote down the Democratic proposal.
While Democrats control 25 of the 40 seats in the state Senate, that is two shy of the two-thirds majority needed for passage of the annual spending plan.
Some have questioned whether the Senate leadership has the full support of its own caucus for the tax hikes, particularly the vote of moderate Sen. Lou Correa, D-Santa Ana.
"I would be very surprised if they were to get 25 votes," said Republican Sen. Jeff Denham, who was the target of a failed recall after helping block last year's budget.
Perata has requested senators remain within 24 hours of the Capitol. The full Senate is scheduled to return to Sacramento on August 4.
Here's Perata's brief statement, in full:
"Negotiations are continuing daily and we are making progress. It is clear that a floor vote on Tuesday would disrupt that progress. I know the state is facing a cash crunch, and I am doing everything possible to pass a budget that fixes the state's fiscal problems, which every year get worse. It's painful - but it's time to stop shunting our responsibility off to 'next year.'"
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