Brown Says Lawmakers Will Come Around on Budget Cuts

California Governor Jerry Brown says he's confident state lawmakers will eventually make his proposed spending cuts in an effort to balance the budget. 

So far, Assembly Democrats have rejected several of Brown's reductions, including those to welfare and college financial aid. Brown compared lawmakers' lack of enthusiasm to standing at the edge of the cold waters of Lake Tahoe.

"And sometimes if you do that, you hesitate because you know the shock to the system when you dive in. They're that scared of the cuts, they're a little reluctant but they will dive in because otherwise there's no balanced budget."

Brown spoke to reporters after giving a speech to members of law enforcement.  In that speech, he urged support for his initiative to increase taxes to help balance the state's budget. 

Brown Defends His Compromise Tax Initiative

 "Anybody who makes 250-thousand a year becomes a millionaire very quickly….  If you save…. You just need four years."

Brown is also defending his claim that money generated by the measure would go to schools.   Critics say that he is overstating the benefit for schools, as the money would not necessarily increase k-through-12 funding.