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California Democrats Seek Budget That Raises Tobacco, Oil Taxes 

California’s Democratic legislative leaders want to raise taxes on oil companies and cigarettes by $2 billion to help close the most-populous U.S. state’s $24 billion budget deficit.

The increases will be included in a budget the Democrats plan to vote on next week, Assembly Speaker Karen Bass said. Democrats say the additional funds are needed to avert Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposals to cut or eliminate state programs that aid the unemployed and the poor.

“This is a serious response to a serious problem,” Bass, a Democrat from Los Angeles, said in a statement.

The Democrats’ decision sets the stage for a battle with Republican lawmaker

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