SACRAMENTO - Assembly Republican Leader Connie Conway, of Tulare and Assembly Budget Committee Vice Chair Jim Nielsen, R-Gerber, today issued the following joint statement in response to the release of Governor Brown's revised budget plan:

"The Governor's revised budget unfortunately sets the stage for the passage of another phony majority vote budget that kicks the can down the road so Democrats can avoid making tough budget choices. It is hard to reconcile the Governor's statement about spending cuts given the fact that spending will grow by $4.6 billion and we will be spending more for state corrections and realignment when it was promised that realignment would save taxpayers. His plan is more about politics than it is about presenting an honest and realistic budget plan for the tough times we are facing.

"We believe this updated proposal is part of the Governor's strategy to try and fool Californians into accepting a costly tax increase as a necessary step. Nothing could be further from the truth. Tax revenue is up two years in a row, but not enough to satisfy the spending demands of Sacramento Democrats. It will be interesting to see if the liberal majority in the Legislature accept the Governor's cuts, or reject them as they did earlier this year when they blocked the Governor's health and welfare reforms and grew spending by $1 billion.

"We have shown that we can safeguard classroom dollars without raising taxes in our 'Roadmap to Protect Classrooms and Taxpayers.' It all comes down to a question of priorities. Republicans will continue to fight to protect funding for the classroom and public safety, while standing united together as the last line of defense for California's taxpayers."

To learn more about the Republican "Roadmap to Protect Classrooms and Taxpayers," visit the "California Budget Fact Check" website.