California Governor Jerry Brown has vetoed a budget presented by the Democratic majority of the legislature, calling it “questionable” and “unrealistic.”

In a statement issued by his office on Thursday, Brown lamented the reluctance of Republicans to bring the budget to the voters for approval. He also claimed the budget presented would leave California in worse shape than its present critical condition.

Legislators will still get their paychecks, because the budget vote was completed before midnight, June 15, the deadline set by voters in November.

“I am returning Senate Bill 69 and Assembly Bill 98 without my signature,” Brown said in a statement issued by his office Thursday.

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“In January, I presented a balanced budget solution with a mix of deep spending cuts and temporary tax extensions subject to voter approval. My plan would put these extended revenues in a lockbox, ensuring that they are only used to protect education and public safety. It would also address California’s long term fiscal crisis by substantially paying down the $35 billion wall of debt built up over the last decade.

“Yet Republicans in the Legislature blocked the right of the people to vote on this honest, balanced budget,” he continued. “Meanwhile, Democrats in the Legislature made valiant efforts to address California’s budget crisis by enacting $11 billion in painful cuts and other solutions. I commend them for their tremendous efforts to balance the budget in the absence of Republican cooperation.

“Unfortunately, the budget I have received is not a balanced solution. It continues big deficits for years to come and adds billions of dollars of new debt. It also contains legally questionable maneuvers, costly borrowing and unrealistic savings. Finally, it is not financeable and therefore will not allow us to meet our obligations as they occur.
”We can – and must – do better. A balanced budget is critical to our economic recovery. I am, once again, calling on Republicans to allow the people of California to vote on tax extensions for a balanced budget and significant reforms. They should also join Democrats in supporting job creation and ending tax breaks for out-of-state companies. If they continue to obstruct a vote, we will be forced to pursue deeper and more destructive cuts to schools and public safety– a tragedy for which Republicans will bear full responsibility.”

Assemblyman Cameron Smyth expressed his concerns after the vote Wednesday, predicting that the legislature’s work was not done.

“I think we’re going to be back dealing with the budget,” he said. “It may be on time, but it’s not the most fiscally sound budget. Several of the bills that generate revenue are unconstitutional per Prop. 26 and you’re going to see them challenged.”