The California Republican Party and the Service Employees Union International agree: Any state lawmaker who votes for the state budget deal will become their political enemy.

There is, of course, one small difference. The official GOP organization hates the deal because it would increase taxes. The SEIU hates it because it would cut spending.

Here, in microcosm, is the reason California is rushing toward financial collapse. One set of interest groups doesn’t want to raise taxes, another set of interest groups doesn’t want to cut spending, and no budget can be passed without two-thirds majorities in both houses of the legislature.

And so we have paralysis and year after year of budget deficits until it all comes crashing down.

The vote comes later today.

It’s all bad choices now – Will it be painful taxes and destructive budget cuts, or state government’s version of bankruptcy (and even worse outcomes)?