"Fiscal discipline helped us claw our way out of the $27 billion hole we inherited," Westrup said. "The same prudence is required if we expect to stay out of it."

One key revenue-raising proposal was sidetracked by a Democratic legislator even before it was launched.

Sen. Ted Lieu said in November that he would try to place before voters a tripling of the state's car tax, raising it to the level it was before GOP Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger slashed the rate in 2004. Lieu, a Torrance Democrat, quickly abandoned the idea when legislative leaders did not embrace it.

The vast majority of Republican lawmakers have signed a national no-new-taxes pledge and aren't carrying major revenue-raising measures.

Republican Sen. Bill Emmerson of Hemet is pushing to close what he considers an ambiguity in current law, however, by proposing a specific fee for copies of medical records: $30 for search and retrieval, plus 50 cents per page for the first 25 pages.

Additional pages would be 25 cents. The fee would rise with inflation.

Some of the most closely watched revenue-raising bills this year may be those designed to alter consumer behavior as well.

Senate Bill 700 would create a 5-cent tax on each paper or plastic bag carried out of grocery stores. Senate Bill 622 would impose a penny-per-ounce tax on soft drinks, sweet teas and energy drinks to "discourage excessive consumption of sweetened beverages by increasing the price of these products and by creating a dedicated revenue source for health programs."

Hedlund, commenting generally about using taxes or fees to change risky behavior, said there are circumstances that justify such action.

"If you have behaviors that are exacerbating health problems, which are in many cases creating health costs that are picked up by taxpayers, that's something to look at," he said.

But Senate GOP leader Bob Huff of Diamond Bar said the Democrat-dominated Legislature tends to act too much like a nanny. "I think people are adult enough to make choices for themselves," he said.

Here is a sampling of legislation aimed at raising state revenue through new or higher fees, taxes or other charges.

Senate Bill 622: Impose a penny-per-ounce tax on soft drinks, energy drinks, sports drinks, sweet teas and other sweetened beverages to raise funds for childhood obesity, dental disease and other such programs.

Senate Bill 700: Impose a 5-cent charge on each paper or plastic single-use shopping bag to raise funds for city and county parks and litter programs.

Assembly Bill 760: Impose a tax of 5 cents per bullet on sales of ammunition to raise funds for mental health services.

Senate Bill 782: Impose a $10-per-person tax on nightclubs, bars and restaurants that combine booze with nude or partially nude entertainment. Funds would be used for sexual assault prevention and treatment.

Senate Bill 391: Impose a $75 fee for recording various legal documents, such as deeds, default notices and mechanics liens. Property sale documents would be excluded. Funds would be used to support affordable housing.

Assembly Bill 1002: Raise the vehicle registration and renewal fee by $6. Revenue would be used to encourage use of bicycles, public transportation and pedestrian walkways.

Senate Bill 241: Impose a 9.9% oil severance tax on extraction of oil from California lands and water to raise funds for higher education and state parks.

Senate Bill 254: Require mattress sellers to offer collection and recycling of used mattresses. Also, authorize an unspecified administrative fee on mattress manufacturers.