Sen. Don Perata, D-Oakland, warned Republicans that if they hold up the budget and cripple state government it could backfire on them in the November elections.
"If this body allows the government of the state to be impaired the way the federal government was impaired in 1995, then the public will see its way clear to find out who was responsible," he said.
"Making operation of the state a partisan rather than a nonpartisan operation does not benefit anyone."