L.A. Now Live: Discuss high-speed rail vote

Times Capitol reporter Chris Megerian will join City Editor Shelby Grad to discuss today's vote on Gov. Jerry Brown's new spending plan -- which will determine whether the California high-speed rail project will continue.

The Senate will weigh an $8-billion measure backed by Brown and must approve it, reject it or come up with a new spending plan of its own for the project. The state Assembly passed Brown's plan on Thursday.

It is unclear whether Brown has the votes to get his plan through the Senate. The plan would require 21 of the 25 Senate Democrats to pass, and vote counters are guessing that there are potentially more than a half dozen defectors among the Democrats.

Dan Richard, the state rail authority chairman, was in hyper drive on Thursday lobbying for the Brown plan. Organized labor was similarly in high gear promoting one of its biggest priorities of the year.