Tempers flared during today's Assembly floor session, as Republicans demanded the Democratic budget plan be put up for a vote, while majority Democrats accused Republicans of lacking a plan altogether.
Throughout the morning session, minority Republicans repeatedly pressed Democrats to take up the budget, to no avail.
"The public wants to see action on the budget," insisted Assemblyman Rick Keene, R-Chico. "We want to debate it on this floor."
Assembly Speaker Karen Bass said it was the first time in her four years in the lower house that she saw Republicans demanding a budget vote.
Maybe that means there were at least six GOPers "ready to vote for the budget," she snidely snapped at he colleageues across the aisle.
Assembly GOP leader Mike Villines raised his microphone to challenge Democrats to "have the will" to debate their budget.
"We are at impasse," he said.
Often, public proclamations at budget time bear little resemblance to the behind-the-scenes machinations of negotiations. But Villines said progress wasn't to be had, publicly or privately.
Of the Big 5 talks, Villines said, "Nothing is coming of it. Nothing."
On Wednesday, Villines introduced ACA 19, a constitutional amendment to cap state spending and create a rainy day fund.
The governor and GOP lawmakers have said some type of "budget reform" is the key to striking a deal on the overdue spending plan.
But the latest proposal was not well received by Democrats.
"Republicans have taken the people of the State of California hostage, and ACA 19 is their ransom note," is how Assemblywoman Noreen Evans, a Santa Rosa Democrat and incoming chair of the budget committee, described the bill in a prepared statement.
Assemblyman John Laird, the chair of the budget committee, got in the final word before session closed.
"If I had gone seven months into the budget process and not made a public proposal ... I might wish to change the subject as well," Laird said. Democrats "can't compromise with nothing."
It is Day 38 of the standoff.
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