California Republicans Take Aim at Public Pensions in Brown Plan

California Republican lawmakers want Democrats who control the Legislature to lock in $12 billion in spending cuts and other remedies before they’ll consider a public vote on taxes that’s a cornerstone of Governor Jerry Brown’s budget.

Brown needs at least four Republicans -- two in the Senate and two in the Assembly -- to muster a two-thirds majority that will allow him to bring almost $10 billion in temporary tax increases to voters for approval.