by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Working Californians blogs]

Speaker Fabian Nunez laid out a case today in a conference call with a group of bloggers that the Republicans are deliberately using Newt Gingrich styled tactics in an attempt to prove the government doesn't work. He contends that the ultra-conservative Republican Senators are holding the budget hostage to accomplish broader goals for their party. Nunez's tone was sharp and it seems like he is quite perturbed to return to this debacle.

He is threatening not to discuss any of the Republican's proposals on water storage, one of their main priorities for the cycle. The three conditions he laid out yesterday for coming back to the table were revisited, though I did notice that he said all of the transportation funds would have to back in. Yesterday, it was just a substantial or the full amount.