Yesterday, Democrats put forth an $18 billion budget plan and today state lawmakers are expected to vote on the plan. The proposal contains more than “$9 billion in added revenue and requires only a simple majority vote of the Legislature to be approved.”

The move boxes in Republicans, who have just enough votes to block lawmakers from approving tax and budget bills that require a two-thirds majority in the Democratic-controlled Legislature. But Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger does not support the plan, which is designed to help close a $40 billion budget deficit expected through mid-2010, his spokesman said.

For more on the budget, see: