Democrats said they'd rather not vote for this budget - but it's necessary to bring the state to financial stability.  Senator Juan Vargas:

Vargas: "We don't want to make these cuts at all.  We have to make these cuts because we don't have any money.  And the reason we don't have money is because we can't get support from the other side of the aisle to vote for a tax increase."

Republicans criticized the budget - and the mid-year trigger cuts to schools if voters reject the governor's November tax measure.  Assemblyman Jim Nielsen described them…

Nielsen: "…as a cynical ploy to gain votes for $45 billion and up to seven years in tax increases imposed on the people of the state of California without changing government very much."

Action is expected from Gov. Brown by midnight Wednesday on six budget bills the legislature approved earlier this month.

Debate Over Welfare Bill

One part of the budget deal that drew sharp debate Wednesday is the bill that includes changes to California's welfare-to-work program.

Governor Jerry Brown had proposed a major overhaul of the CalWORKs system that would have limited the amount of time a person could receive welfare.  But the governor and Democratic lawmakers reached a compromise that Republican Assemblyman Donald Wagner criticized as not going far enough.

Wagner: "Before the people should trust us with more of their hard-earned tax money, we should prove we deserve it with real reform. That's not this bill."

Democratic Assemblywoman Holly Mitchell insisted the measure is the best solution in a time of budget cuts and high unemployment.

Mitchell: "CalWORKs must provide opportunities for job seekers - rather than a path to destitution."

The bill would reduce the time most Californians can receive welfare from four years to two, with several exceptions.  It passed on a mostly party-line vote, with a handful of Democrats either voting no or abstaining.