March 11, 2004
| TO: | Cla Members/ Systems/ Network Contacts |
| FROM: | Mike Dillon, Lobbyist Christina Dillon, Lobbyist |
| RE: | News From The Capitol |
BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE DISCUSSIONS BEGIN - PLF HEARING DATE SET
This week, the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance Number One, held its first hearing on the Governor's 2004-05 Budget, receiving overviews from the Legislative Analyst's Office and Superintendent of Public Instruction. While the Senate appears to be in full swing, their colleagues in the Assembly did not begin their education hearings this week as the Assembly Democrats were at a retreat in San Diego to discuss the Budget and workers compensation proposals.
In several weeks, the Senate and Assembly Budget Subcommittees on Education Finance will hear the issue of the Public Library Foundation (the Governor is proposing to make no further reduction in the PLF, and would maintain the program's baseline at $15.8 million). The Senate has set its hearing for Monday, May 10th at 1:30 p.m., which will allow CLA members time to write letters of support, and lobby legislators on CLA Legislative Day. The Assembly schedule has not been set as of this writing.
Please take a moment today and write the members of the Budget Subcommittees. The recommendations of the subcommittees are crucial to the Budget process, as the members may choose to 1) reject the Governor's proposal relative to the PLF, 2) accept the Governor's proposal to keep the PLF at $15.8 million, or 3) offer a compromise proposal of some dollar amount in between. Success at the subcommittee level is a critical first step.
Senate Budget Subcommittee Number One on Education Finance
Chair, Senator Jack Scott
Senator Bob Margett
Senator John Vasconcellos
Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number Two on Education Finance
Assemblyman Joe Simitian, Chair
Assemblyman Joe Canciamilla
Assemblywoman Wilma Chan
Assemblywoman Lynn Daucher
Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg
Assemblywoman Carol Liu
Assemblywoman Sharon Runner
Sample address:
The Honorable Jack Scott
Chair, Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance Number One State
Capitol Sacramento, CA. 95814
Next week we will instruct you on how to write the members of the subcommittees who will be considering local government finance issues in the Budget. We know that many of you are concerned about the Governor's ERAF shift proposal, as well as the LAO's alternative proposal.