In a move that could pave the way to increased funding for schools, Gov. Jerry Brown has released his updated budget plan that he says will shrink the budget deficit and provide more than $1.6 billion in new revenues for public education, with a total boost for education of $3 billion year over year. He also rejected a recently released Republican budget proposal as something that would put California “back in the hole” with gimmicks and game that would leave an ongoing structural deficit. That GOP plan would result in additional cuts of $4.1 billion to education.

The governor’s proposal to increase school funding follows a full week of activities in the state Capitol and around the state by CTA and its allies as part of the union’s declaration of a State of Emergency for schools. The concerted actions, which included the arrest of CTA President David. A Sanchez and 26 others outside the offices of two Republican leaders, focused on blocking mor education  cuts and securing support for the governor’s tax extension proposal.

CTA members have been pressing Republican lawmakers in particular to provide the two votes in the state Senate and two in the Assembly required to approve the tax extension.

The governor told  reporters during his Monday morning Capitol news conference that his proposal would boost school funding to $52.4 billion, about $3 billion more than he proposed in January. The governor conceded that schools would still be receiving less than they did in 2007-2008, but he stated that it would take a couple of years to restore funding to that level.

In response to a reporter’s query, Gov. Brown downplayed the possibility of suspending Proposition 98, schools’ minimum funding guarantee.  The governor said, “We’ve got to pay our bills on time.  It’s not a good example for the state itself to be a scofflaw…cadging from local government and schools….”

The governor said that the rejection of his plan for extending temporary taxes would lead him to plans B and C – but he refused to spell out what those steps would be.

“I’m not going to give the Republicans a roadmap to ruin.  I’ve given them a roadmap to success. That’s what the May revision is,” Gov. Brown declared.

The governor said he expected the new budget to be approved by the end of June deadline, and he noted that the ballot measure penalizing lawmakers’ pay if they are late with the budget would likely help. “That could be the equalizer….we may be able to get it done even sooner.”

The governor stated that he has been working hard to secure the total of four Republican votes needed for his spending plan.

“The Republicans I have been talking to know they have to vote for the ballot measure…. I spoke with several of them during the past hour, and I will continue working hard during the next weeks to get the four votes…..“I’m talking to anyone I think of as a plausible vote, and that’s more than four and less than 10,” the governor said.

The governor said the even though some tax extensions would take effect prior to a popular vote, the proposal meets with his campaign pledge: “There are no taxes without a vote of the people – this is a program with a vote of the people. “