From Contra Costa Times:

Assembly Minority Leader Mike Villines on Thursday accused Democrats of stalling budget negotiations so they can avoid having to agree on a spending cap as part of reforms Republicans are seeking.

If the Legislature fails by midnight Aug. 16th to approve budget reform legislation — which would have to be done by a constitutional amendment — it would fail to make it onto the November ballot.

“I think they’re trying to wait out the deadline to put anything on the ballot,” said Villines, a Fresno Republican. “I believe this has been going on for a while. They’re serious about it and they’re showing it. They won’t even bring up their own budget. I think you’ll see them try to move the budget right after the deadline.

“Once that happens, if that’s their game,” he added, “we will be in the longest budget (standoff) we’ve ever had.”

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