Faced with loss of pay, CA Democrats are crafting alternative state budget

The alternative plan would keep paychecks coming even though talks between Gov. Jerry Brown and Republicans have snagged on the issue of taxes.

Barankin and others close to the process declined to provide details. But a fallback blueprint would almost certainly rely on accounting moves and other measures that would merely paper over the state's remaining $10-billion shortfall: Democrats, who have sharply cut back many programs already, have little appetite for further reductions.