Fiscal emergency declared for California

SACRAMENTO, July 1 (UPI) -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a fiscal emergency in California Friday as the Legislature continued struggling with a budget for the cash-strapped state.

The declaration included calling a special session of the Legislature devoted to the financial crisis and also ordered nearly all state offices to close three Fridays per month until next June.

The governor has insisted lawmakers close the state's gaping $24.3 billion budget deficit completely. The special session gives lawmakers 45 days to pass a budget after which they will not be allowed to adjourn or attend to other business until they do.

"I will not be a part of pushing this crisis down the road -- the road stops here," Schwarzenegger said in a written statement.

Political analysts have chalked up this year's budget crisis to a combination of the recession, the sharp partisan divide in Sacramento and the requirement that budgets be approved by two-thirds of lawmakers.