The budget proposal would fill the state’s 42 billion dollar budget hole through cuts, tax hikes and borrowing.  It takes two-thirds of the Democratically-controlled legislature to approve the plan; that’s three Republicans in each house.  A number of GOP lawmakers have already said they’ll vote “no,” indicating the party plans to put up the minimum number of votes required.   Democratic Assembly Speaker Karen Bass says she’s not worried about the lower house:

“My caucus is united.  I am completely confident that we will have all of the votes that we need and I am also encouraged that we will also have the votes on the other side of the aisle that we need as well.”

But at least one Democrat in the Senate remains noncommittal.  That one vote could throw the whole deal.  Earlier this week Senate Democratic Leader Darrel Steinberg said he expected all of his members to vote for the budget – with no exceptions.