In hopes of breaking a budget impasse, Senate Republicans on Thursday said they will propose a flood of spending cuts in coming days and demand that Democrats debate their merits on the Senate floor.

Word of plans to introduce dozens of budget amendments, likely on Monday, came as budget negotiations remained at a standstill and the days dwindled leading up to a new fiscal year next Tuesday.

"There will be a menu of reduction proposals, some of which have already been proposed by the governor but to date have been rejected by the Democrats," said H.D. Palmer, spokesman for the Senate Republican Caucus.

The specific cuts to be proposed had not been agreed upon Thursday but likely will include a host of cuts to health care programs proposed in May by Democratic Gov. Gray Davis but excluded from various Democratic budget blueprints.
Democrats have insisted their proposal -- which includes some $11 billion in program reductions -- cuts as far as possible without crippling state services.

Republicans say they can cut deeper.

Senate Republican Leader Jim Brulte of Rancho Cucamonga said GOP suggestions have been ignored and behind-the-scenes talks have failed.

"We'll show up; we'll bring amendments; we'll debate it here," Brulte said.

Meanwhile, Assembly Democrats returned to Sacramento on Thursday after a two-day trip throughout California to seek support for balancing the budget with a mix of borrowing, cuts and tax hikes.

Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson, D-Culver City, said he will put a plan up for a vote on the Assembly floor today that contains $1 billion in new budget cuts to try to pacify Republicans but would raise taxes on the state's top earners.

The plan also embraces a proposal to finance $10.7 billion of the deficit by selling bonds that would be repaid with a half-cent sales tax.

"We will make our arguments, and we will get up and fight for what we think is a common-sense budget," Wesson said.

But Wesson first met for hours Thursday with his own Democratic caucus to try to persuade them to go along with deeper cuts.

And Assembly Republicans pledged to continue to reject any tax increases.

"Our position hasn't changed," said Assembly Republican Leader Dave Cox of Fair Oaks. "We believe, as the Senate does, that you can close this budget gap without raising taxes."

State law requires two-thirds approval for a budget. Democrats, who hold the majority in both houses, must win at least six GOP votes in the Assembly and two in the Senate.

Neither chamber had plans to meet over the weekend, and aides said Davis is traveling to New York until Sunday to celebrate his mother's 80th birthday and attend his niece's wedding.