California Governor Jerry Brown has declared a fiscal emergency. The move is designed to get lawmakers to act quickly on the budget.

Brown’s emergency proclamation reaffirms one called by former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in early December.



The key is the timing. Under such an order, the legislature is required to address the budget problems within 45 days. That time period expired yesterday.

Brown’s new proclamation re-sets that. After 45 days, lawmakers are not allowed to take up anything other than budget-related legislation. Brown is working to convince lawmakers to adopt his budget proposal. It includes deep cuts and an extension of tax increases to close the $25 billion budget gap.



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