Governor May Not Sign Budget Before January

With a budget resolution still weeks away, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is hinting that he might not sign a budget before he leaves office next January.

Schwarzenegger is demanding pension, tax and spending reforms. He said Monday that if he doesn’t get what he wants, he won’t sign a budget agreement, and could leave it to the next governor.

Schwarzenegger also told the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce on Monday that he opposes a ballot initiative to pass a budget with a majority vote of the state Legislature, rather than the current two-thirds majority.

California began its new fiscal year July 1 without a balanced budget.

Democrats who control a majority of the Legislature want to delay corporate tax breaks and impose a new oil tax.