Brown: Still Optimistic About Calif. Budget Plan

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Gov. Jerry Brown says he's still optimistic he can get the necessary Republican support to pass a budget plan to address California's $26.6 billion deficit, as he picked up an endorsement from another business group.

Brown met Friday in San Francisco with the Bay Area Council, which endorsed his proposal to cut about $12.5 billion in spending and ask voters to extend temporary sales, income and vehicle taxes.

The business group said it isn't happy about higher taxes but supports the Democratic governor's plan in a "spirit of shared sacrifice and grown-up-behavior."

Brown has set a March 10 deadline for lawmakers to place the tax measure on a June ballot.

He says some Democrats oppose the deep spending cuts but several Republicans have shown interest in backing it.

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