California budget talks collapse

It is on the issue of redevelopment where Republicans look the worst. Brown wanted to terminate redevelopment agencies and funnel their $1.7 billion revenue into more useful purposes. Chris Norby of Fullerton was the only Assembly Republican to vote against what he calls "the most wasteful," fraudulent and abusive arm of government.

All sides fumbled. Republicans failed to compromise and they failed to let voters bring clarity on state spending. Democrats kept arguing for letting the voters decide - but only on taxes, not pension reform or spending.

With polls indicating that the Brown ballot measure would tank, state pols in both parties had little incentive to push for a deal that couldn't win. SF gate