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State Budget Update
TO: CLA MEMBERS/ SYSTEMS/ NETWORK CONTACTS
FROM: Mike Dillon, Lobbyist; Christina Dillon, Lobbyist
RE: NEWS FROM THE CAPITOL
ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS BRING BUDGET UP ON FLOOR AGAIN - VOTE TABLED WHEN "BIG FIVE LEADERS" QUICKLY CONVENE TALKS
Facing the symbolic deadline of the end of the fiscal year, June 30th, the Assembly Democrats took the opportunity this afternoon to force a second vote on the state Budget bill, despite the understanding that they lacked the requisite Republican votes to attain a two-thirds vote for passage. In recent days, the Assembly Democrats have accused the minority party and Governor of holding up the Budget for political posturing. Republicans, however, claim that the Democrats Budget is not in balance, is not the so called "Governor's Budget," and spends one-time dollars for ongoing expenditures.
As Assembly Budget Chair, John Laird presented AB 77, the Budget bill, shortly before noon today. He noted, "Our actions today are not academic. Real people in the real world are dependent upon our actions. Last time the vote fell seven votes short and we heard your concerns." Assemblyman Laird then detailed a list of new budgetary solutions and compromises that utilized one-time funds, rather than so-called "on-going" dollars, including the full repayment of the vehicle license fee gap loan. He added, "There is really no excuse. If the Budget is not adopted, it is really for political purposes." Republican Assemblyman Keith Richman, who has been pressing for budget and pension reform, argued that he would be voting against the Democrats' new Budget package. He added, "This is really about making fundamental reforms in state government that are going to bring about fiscal responsibility and accountability. It is time to face up to the problems and not continue to put a band-aid on these issues." Democrat Assemblywoman Fran Pavley countered, "I intend to hopefully go home for the weekend and many of us will be in parades or giving speeches in honor of our country's declaration to be a free and independent nation, and I'm going to have to explain to my constituents why we're not passing this Budget...and frankly, they don't get it. They don't understand, why we can't pass a Budget that is 99 percent the Governor's May Revise."
After more than an hour and a half of debate on the Budget bill, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez announced a surprise recess of the Floor to convene a brief meeting of the so-called "Big 5," consisting of the Governor and the four legislative leaders. The Assembly was then promptly placed into "lock down." Thanks to modern technology, one legislator's office received this text message/cry for help from a legislator on the Floor: "I'm bored." A short time later, the Assembly Speaker returned to the rostrum and reported that he would be tabling the vote on the Budget and would send his members home for the weekend, to return on Tuesday. As a side note, we were aware that many of the Democrat members were anxious to leave this afternoon to participate in the festivities beginning tonight surrounding the swearing in of former Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa as the newly elected Mayor of Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, in the Senate, Senate President pro Tem Don Perata has instructed all policy committees to stop holding hearings on bills as of next week until a Budget bill is passed. Thus, the Senate Energy, Utilities, and Commerce Committee scheduled a rarely-held Thursday hearing this morning, with an ambitious agenda, including AB 1388-Ridley-Thomas (a teleconnect bill, supported by CLA, which passed today with bi-partisan support). The committee was interrupted not less than three different times for two "emergency caucuses" called by the Senate President pro Tem, relative to the Budget, and one caucus called by the Senate Republicans. (If we had worn a pedometer today, we would have surely been impressed with our mileage logged running back and forth to the Capitol!) The Senate did not take up the Budget bill today, despite Senate President pro Tem Perata telling members yesterday to "bring their pajamas," as they would be locked in, until a Budget was passed. Late this afternoon, however, Senator Perata announced a vote would not be taken today, and instead negotiations between the "Big 5" would continue.
We will keep you posted.
Posted on June 30, 2005 5:55 PM | Permalink