SACRAMENTO (AP) - California lawmakers frustrated over the state
budget impasse are pointing fingers and accusing each other of failing to find a solution to the $15.2 billion deficit.

The rancorous debate erupted on the Assembly floor Thursday after Republicans attempted to bring the Democrats tax-raising budget plan to a vote that surely would have failed.

The push for the vote came a day after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced he will veto all bills sent to him until lawmakers pass a state budget.

Lawmakers are at odds over how to close the deficit. Republicans say any spending plan must include budget reform, including a state spending cap that Democrats oppose.

Democrats have proposed raising taxes on the wealthy and corporations, while the governor has floated a 1 percent sales tax
increase to soften the spending cuts.

California is the only state with a fiscal year beginning July 1 that remains without a spending plan.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)