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News From the Capitol
I. ASSEMBLY EDUCATION COMMITTEE APPROVES LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION BOND MEASURE
Two weeks ago the Assembly Education Committee took testimony, but no actual vote, on SB 1516 by Senator Joe Simitian. SB 1516 is a $4 billion library construction and renovation bond measure sponsored by the California Library Association. If passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor, SB 1516 would appear on the November 2010 ballot. During the hearing on the measure, several of the committee members made positive comments about public libraries, with Chairman Assemblyman Gene Mullin noting that the state was not keeping pace with the overall infrastructure needs of libraries. CLA testified as the bill's sponsor, and joining in support was the California Federation of Teachers. CLA's testimony highlighted the concept of libraries being "the great equalizer" wherein all patrons, from all walks of life have access to important library services and programs. Assembly Education Committee member Assemblywoman Karnette said, "I am so glad you mentioned that. During these difficult financial times, libraries are an important place for people [when resources are limited]." Assemblyman Joe Coto, a member of the Assembly Education Committee, said, "I would like to compliment the author for bringing this bill forward." Four members of the committee asked to be added to the measure as co-authors: Assemblywoman Julia Brownley, Assemblyman Joe Coto, Assemblywoman Betty Karnette, and Assemblyman Jose Solorio.
The measure was then sent to the Assembly Education Committee's so-called "suspense file." You may recall that the fiscal committees in each house - the Assembly Appropriations Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee - are the committees that typically institute a "suspense file." The "suspense file" is a way in which the committee can prioritize measures with cost estimates of $150,000 or higher and then decide, weeks later, to pass the measure on to their respective Floors, or to hold the bill in committee, rendering it dead for the year. This year the Assembly and Senate Education Committees have also created their own version of the "suspense file." Last week, during a hearing lasting well past 8 p.m., the Assembly Education Committee passed SB 1516-Simitian off of suspense on a straight party-line vote of 8 "ayes" to 3 "noes." (Democrats voting "aye" were Chair Gene Mullin, Julia Brownley, Joe Coto, Mike Eng, Loni Hancock, Betty Karnette, Curren Price, and Jose Solorio. Republicans voting "no" were Vice Chair Martin Garrick, Bob Huff, and Dr. Alan Nakanishi). SB 1516 will now head to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for consideration. No date has been set for the hearing as of this writing.
It is important to note that if a single bond or a comprehensive General Obligation bond package is to go forward this year, an agreement will need to be reached by legislative leadership. Thus, it is critical that CLA members contact the Chair and Vice Chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee and the four legislative leaders and the Governor. (In a June 22 article regarding bonds in the Sacramento Bee, the piece notes: "The governor said he is working on an economic stimulus package, that, among other things, would expedite infrastructure bond funding ‘so that we can get those billions of dollars pumped into the economy.'")
Please take a moment today to contact the following individuals and request their support of SB 1516 by Senator Joe Simitian.
The Honorable Mark Leno
Chair, Assembly Appropriations Committee
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA. 95814
The Honorable Mimi Walters
Vice Chair, Assembly Appropriations Committee
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor, State of California
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
The Honorable Don Perata
Senate President pro Tempore
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
The Honorable Karen Bass
Speaker of the California Assembly
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
The Honorable Dave Cogdill
Senate Republican Leader
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
The Honorable Mike Villines
Assembly Republican Leader
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
II. WORK OF THE BUDGET CONFERENCE COMMITTEE STALLS AS LEGISLATIVE LEADERS REACH IMPASSE - NO ACTION YET ON LIBRARY ISSUES
Since the early part of June, the powerful Budget Conference Committee, consisting of three legislators from the Senate and three representatives from the Assembly, has been working sporadically at the Capitol to attempt to reconcile major divisions regarding this year's Budget. Members of the Conference Committee include Senator Denise Ducheny (Co-Chair), Senator Bob Dutton, Senator Mike Machado, Assemblyman John Laird (Co-Chair), Assemblyman Mark Leno, and Assemblyman Roger Niello. The Conference Committee has been charged with reconciling the differences between the Governor's Budget, and the Assembly and Senate versions of the Budget. The book of action items that must be considered and acted on by the six members, totals 500 pages.
Contained in the Budget Conference Committee binders is consideration of the Governor's ten percent across the board cut to State Library operations, as well as a ten percent reduction to the Public Library Foundation (PLF) and Transaction Based Reimbursement (TBR). The Senate is recommending adoption of the Governor's proposed ten percent across-the-board cut to these items, while the Assembly rejected the Governor's proposed cuts, hoping that additional revenues might be found in order to stave off the reductions to library operations, as well as other programs important to Democrats such as health and human services, transportation, and education.
As the Conference Committee did their so-called "first pass" over each item in the binder, when they arrived at the library issues, Senator Ducheny said, "My favorite has always been the Public Library Foundation...but I don't know how to get it back." The Senator was referencing the history of cuts to the program. The sentiment was echoed by her colleague Assemblyman Laird who said, "There have been a lot of cuts to the PLF over the last 5 to 6 years." He went on to compliment libraries for trying to stay open on the weekends, despite Budget challenges. (Assemblyman Laird is an active user of the Sutro library.) The Conference Committee then decided to postpone action on all State Library issues as there was no agreement between the two houses. While the Conference Committee met last Friday afternoon for a couple of hours, to close out a few non-controversial open items, they have not met since that time, and they remain "on call of the Chair."
The "Big 4" legislative leaders have been meeting regularly behind closed doors, without inviting the Governor to participate, in an attempt to negotiate an overall solution to the Budget. At a business luncheon that we attended yesterday, at which the Governor spoke, the Governor said that he did not care if he was not invited to the "Big 4" meetings, "as long as they get the job done." The Legislature will shorten its month-long summer recess scheduled for tomorrow. The Senate released an updated schedule yesterday, indicating that members of the Senate Appropriations Committee should plan on participating in several hearings in early July in order for the committee to get on top of their agendas. The Assembly Appropriations Committee has announced it will also meet. (The motivation: The Legislature would like to adjourn a week early - provided a Budget has passed - in order to allow Democrats to attend the Democratic National Convention at the end of August.)
We will continue to keep you updated as details emerge.
Submitted by Mike Dillon and Christina Dillon, CLA Lobbyists
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Posted on July 2, 2008 12:39 PM | Permalink