California's newly minted budget deal was threatened late today after the Assembly Republican leader said he would withhold GOP votes because of an emerging Democratic proposal to release thousands of prisoners to home detention and county jails and create a commission to review criminal sentences.
In an e-mail to his colleagues titled "Budget Double-Cross?" GOP leader Sam Blakeslee of San Luis Obispo said the budget agreement with Democrats and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger clearly ruled out "early prisoner releases." Moreover, he said leaders had agreed to tackle the prison issue in August after the main budget bills had been approved. Votes are expected Thursday.
Read more at SacBee.com