For five years, Jim Brulte has been the Republican antagonist to a Democratic governor, playing the leading opponent to Gray Davis and the legislative majority.

Arnold Schwarzenegger's election changed the script for Brulte, the state Senate minority leader from Rancho Cucamonga, who said he has moved from "best actor to best supporting actor" for the new governor.

While praising Schwarzenegger's governance and financial plan, there is one line Brulte won't say as the governor's budget proposal grinds through the legislature in the coming months - yes to higher taxes.

"I am adamantly opposed to tax increases, I have no intention for tax increases and I will not vote for tax increases," Brulte said Monday.

In a wide-ranging interview with the Daily Bulletin, Brulte revealed some of his proposals for the next legislative session, his opinion of Schwarzenegger's debut performance and the finer points of the governor's budget proposal.

"This governor is doing a great job," said Brulte. "He understands the power he has and how to use it."

A 13-year veteran of the Legislature who will be term-limited out come November, Brulte supports the governor's budget proposal, despite the $15 billion bond attached to it, and some of the hits on programs he has defended in the past.

"Do I think you can balance the budget without everybody coming to the table and participating?" he said. "No, I don't."

A part of the budget plan hits colleges and universities with tuition and fee increases, which Brulte had fought against for years until recently. He said he has always been a proponent of free education, but the bad economic times force everyone to contribute.

Part of the reason for the tuition increase, which is limited to 10 percent, is to level out the hikes in money students need to pay out year after year, said Brulte. This is a plan for gradual increase, not a huge boost that surprises students mid-stream.

While opposing any tax increase, Brulte is open to targeted fees.

"I distinguish between a user fee and a tax," he said. "A tax is something people have to pay whether they use a service or not."

One of the pieces of legislation he will push this session will actually save colleges and universities millions of dollars, Brulte said.

The Universal Numbering System for Higher Education Courses will require a common numbering system for core courses at public and private postsecondary schools. The bill will make it easier for students to transfer credits, said Brulte.

"English 101 at Chaffey College should be the same as English 101 at Cal Poly, which should be the same as English 101 at UCR," he said. Because certain basic courses won't transfer, "kids are spending too much money and too much time to graduate."

Brulte also supports the governor's budget plan eliminating some categorical school district funding, which limits local school control over how they spend certain money. Some districts questioned if eliminating the funding would mean they could eliminate the program. Brulte said the cut would give districts total control over the specified program.

The workers' compensation reform battle is also in Brulte's plans. Dismissing complaints about the governor's March 1 deadline, he said legislators have had more than a year to come up with a proposal. If there is none, he would support putting the governor's compensation initiative on the November ballot.