Day 111 without a state budget and the behind the scenes talks continue.
Spokesman Matt Canter says the governor believes progress is being made and both the governor and his staff are talking to legislators of both parties in both houses.
But as they talk, Canter says the state continues to head for a fiscal emergency. Something for which, he says, the governor continues to prepare.
Republicans are still pushing for separate funding bills on public schools and local governments. But Canter says while the GOP agrees to the increased funding amounts, they haven't shown how they are going to get the money to pay for it since they oppose tax increases.
Transportation can be debated separately, Canter says, because it is a segregated budget that clearly defines how the money is spent and how the revenue to pay for those items will be raised.
Canter says the state's constitution mandates a balance budget and that's why passing items one at a time won't work.