Senate President Pro-Tem Don Perata says there’s no doubt where this budget stands in his mind: 

 “This is the worst I’ve seen. The worst I’ve seen because we’ve never had to go in and cut in the present year after all the budgets have been set…”

Governor Schwarzenegger has called lawmakers into special session to cut more than three billion dollars from the current year’s budget… The deficit over the next eighteen months is 14-point-five billion.  Democrats say tax increases should be on the table—but the Governor says he won’t support that.  Republican Senator Dennis Hollingsworth says taxes aren’t the way to go. 

 “We don’t want to see California’s homeowners or motorists’ pocketbooks affected at a critical time when they’re already paying more.”

Lawmakers will begin hearings on mid-year budget cut proposals next week, with sub-committee hearings expected later this month.