Jerry Brown tells PBS “the budget is fixed”

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Gov. Jerry Brown took a victory lap on ‘PBS NewsHour’ on Tuesday night and said California’s success in tackling the state’s budget deficit is a model for the country.

‘The budget is fixed,’ the governor declared. Last week, Brown released a $97.7-billion budget proposal showing the state’s deficit has been wiped out.

The interview was a chance for Brown to juxtapose California’s progress with gridlock in Washington, where a hyperpartisan Congress has struggled to reach an agreement on the country’s financial challenges.

Brown said California would not be expecting budget surpluses if voters hadn’t approved new taxes in November.

‘Just austerity will never allow us to climb out of this hole,’ he said.

He criticized Republicans for refusing to cooperate on raising taxes.

‘The ideology of the Republicans is different from the Democrats,’ he said. ‘They don’t mind the inequality.’

The 74-year-old governor, who recently finished treatment for prostate cancer, also said his health is good.

‘I’m doing well,’ he said. ‘Ask me in 20 years.’

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-- Chris Megerian in Sacramento
twitter.com/chrismegerian