Features
State budget battle may intensify after Democrats lose two seats
SACRAMENTO โ A California state budget process that broke down last summer, triggering a record impasse between Republicans and Democrats, may become still more difficult next year with Republican election gains in the state Assembly.
Assembly Democrats, who already needed four Republican votes for a two-thirds majority to pass a budget, now need six crossover votes โ and possibly seven โ in the two-year legislative session that begins in January.
The final tally hinges on a lone San Joaquin Valley Assembly race that remained undecided on Wednesday.
Elections officials in Kern, Kings, Tulare and Fresno counties said it may take two weeks to determine a winner in the 30th Assembly District. While thousands of absentee and provisional ballots remained uncounted, Democrat Nicole Parra held only a 475-vote edge over Republican Dean Gardner.