E-Mail from Assembly GOP Leader Sam Blakeslee to His Caucus

We broke our Big 5 meeting just a few moments ago. It’s clear that we are very close to obtaining as good a deal as we are likely to get given the state of negotiations and the leverage available to us with unified rep caucuses and a sympathetic governor.

There remain a few important outstanding questions and no deal is yet inked.    Read more »

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Day 15: Fiscal year 2009-2010

Glenbrook, Nevada, Lake Tahoe

4:58 PM, Pacific Standard Time 

No deal was struck between the governor and the Legislature on closing an estimated $26 billion hole in the budget for the fiscal year tha began July 1.

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Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislators met privately late into the evening July 14 and reconvened late afternoon July 15.     Read more »

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Day 14: Fiscal Year 2009-2010

SACRAMENTO

5:05 PM, Pacific Standard Time

No deal between the governor and the Legislature on closing an estimated $26 billion hole in the budget for the fiscal year that began July 1.

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Weather in Tahoe gorgeous. Luck be a lady tonight.

-30-    Read more »

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Day 13: Fiscal Year 2009-2010

SACRAMENTO

4:57 PM, Pacific Standard Time 

No deal was reached between the governor and the Legislature on closing an estimated $26 billion hole in the budget for the fiscal year that began July 1.

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Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger released a 60-second television ad paid for with his political funds in which he reiterates his pledge to veto any budget proposal containing tax increases.    Read more »

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Day 10: Fiscal Year 2009-2010

SACRAMENTO

3:42 PM, Pacific Standard Time

No deal between the governor and the Legislature on closing the estimated $26 billion hole in the budget for the fiscal year that began July 1.

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Legislative leaders met privately with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to discuss the budget.

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The Legislature was adjourned until Monday July 13.    Read more »

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Day Nine: Fiscal Year 2009-2010

SACRAMENTO

4:45 PM, Pacific Standard Time

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No deal between the governor and the Legislature on closing an estimated $26 billion hole in the budget for the fiscal year that began July 1.

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The Senate scheduled a 9:00 am floor session then adjourned until Monday, July 13.

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The Assembly scheduled a 9:30 am floor session then adjourned until Monday, July 13.    Read more »

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Day Eight: Fiscal Year 2009-2010

SACRAMENTO

5:05 PM, Pacific Standard Time

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 No deal reached to close an estimated $26 billion hole in the budget for the fiscal year that began July 1.

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Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger held a noon press conference to outline changes he wants to make to the state’s welfare system. Among them, tougher sanctions for recipients who don’t meet the program’s requirements.     Read more »

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Day Seven: Fiscal Year 2009-2010

SACRAMENTO

4:57 PM, Pacific Standard Time

No deal yet on how to close an estimated $26 billion hole in the budget for the fiscal year that began July 1.

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 The governor left the Capitol a little before 1 pm, presumably to eat lunch.

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 Hearings were held by the Legislature’s policy committees.    Read more »

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Day Six: Fiscal Year 2009-2010

SACRAMENTO — 16:57 p.m., Pacific Standard Time

No budget deal yet.

Citing the state’s “continued inability to achieve timely agreement on budgetary and cash flow solutions to its severe fiscal crisis” Fitch Ratings, one of three firms that set the bond rating for California’s general obligation bonds, knocked California down two rungs to BBB.    Read more »

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Something to be Said for Consistency

On July 7, Sen. George Runner, a Lancaster Republican, has a joint resolution scheduled for hearing in the upper house’s Public Safety Committee.

A resolution is basically a letter requesting Congress and the President to do something. This one, SJR 11, asks the federal government not to send California any terrorist or suspected terrorist being held in Guantanamo Bay.    Read more »

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