This is usually the time of year when state legislators begin sparring in earnest over the adoption of a new state budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

But this week they’re scheduled instead to begin sparring in earnest and doubtless at length over plans to fix a cumulative $24 billion hole in the budget they already approved last February for the coming fiscal year, and the current year ending June 30.

So much for working ahead of schedule.

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Two plans have emerged to close the budget deficit, one proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and another passed by the Democratic-controlled conference committee. Here’s how some provisions in the two plans compare and contrast.

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