Jerry Brown tells lawmakers to ‘man up,’ cut budget

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Gov. Jerry Brown urged state lawmakers to “man up” and make billions in cuts to state services the governor proposed in his January budget.

Brown made his comments in an interview with San Francisco host Ron Owens on his morning show on KGO-AM radio.

Democratic legislators have ignored a request by Brown to cut billions from welfare, MediCal and in-home care for the elderly and disabled by March 1. Other proposed cuts made by the governor have been rejected outright, including Brown’s proposal to slash financial aid programs to low-income college students by creating higher grade requirements.

Most recently, a Senate committee rejected Brown’s plan to cut funding for animal shelters that are used to keep unclaimed pets alive for six days instead of three before they are euthanized.

A spokeswoman for Senate leader Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) said Democrats intend to wait until updated budget figures are available next month before considering deeper cuts to state services. “It is important to have a clear picture of exactly what we are facing,” said Steinberg spokeswoman Alicia Trost. “Our role is to do the least amount of harm to aid our economic recovery. In past years, Democrats have stepped up and made the cuts needed to balance the budget. This year will be no different.”

Delaying those cuts is adding to what Brown called a $9.2-billion deficit, a number that is being driven higher by sagging state tax receipts.

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-- Anthony York in Sacramento