Proposed education cuts rejected in Calif.

SACRAMENTO, June 26 (UPI) -- Members of the California Senate said no to state Assembly proposals to cut school spending and delay payments to education and local government.

The Sacramento Bee said Friday that while the budget bills were passed by the state Assembly Thursday, the state Senate shot down the latest attempts to balance California's $24 billion budget deficit.

The proposals had been part of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to balance the budget, but the Republican joined GOP senators in opposing the bills when it went before the state Senate.

The failed attempt to balance the state budget before next Wednesday comes after State Controller John Chiang vowed to start paying off state bills with IOUs, the Bee reported.

The passage of the proposed bills, which would have left local governments and schools facing state payment delays, would have saved California up to $5 billion that could be used to pay those bills.