Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg is upset about the lack of progress on a budget deal with Republicans:
"If these guys don't start moving and moving fast, I'm prepared to pull the plug."
Steinberg says if an agreement can't be worked out to send a series of tax extensions to the ballot, he's ready to try other options. Those could include Democrats putting the taxes on the ballot without Republican support or a November ballot initiative. GOP Assemblyman Jim Nielsen says Republicans should continue to stand their ground:
"If the Governor wants to do it by other means or challenge legally and try to force taxes with a majority vote I'm quite sure they're going to lose at the court, but that does not dispose us to go along with it."