Bad Budget Problems Made Worse

There are lots of thoughtful – and disturbing – observations by the Legislative Analyst about Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s revised budget plan, which seeks to close a $21 billion gap between spending commitments and revenues.

In a report issued May 21, the Legislative Analyst says that while the GOP governor’s estimate of a $21 billion problem is “reasonable,” it is actually $3 billion higher.    Read more »

More

The Most Significant Reform of California’s Political System of the New Millenium

Jerrol LeBaron of Tujunga may well have happened on the 21st Century’s most far-reaching reform of California’s political system – he wants lawmakers to swear they’ve read and understand the legislation they vote on.

Such a requirement would have cataclysmic effects, infinitely more profound than preventing lawmakers from drawing their own district lines or allowing open primaries.    Read more »

More

Selling Surplus Property Won’t Help the State’s General Fund Very Much

 Depending on the structure of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed sales of such state properties as San Quentin and various office buildings, any cash collected by the state can’t be used to balance the budget.

Under the terms of Proposition 60A, approved by voters in November 2004, proceeds from the sale of any state surplus property can only be used to pay the interest on $15 billion in budget-balancing bonds sought by the GOP governor and approved by voters in March of the same year.    Read more »

More

Budget Conference Committee to Convene

A special two-house conference committee will begin meeting May 21 to stitch together a revised budget designed to erase a gap between spending commitments and revenues of at least $15.4 billion and as much as $21.3 billion, if several budget-related ballot measures fail in the May 19 special election.

Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, a Los Angeles Democrat, has already alerted representatives from the Schwarzenegger administration of the committee’s meeting schedule.    Read more »

More

What the Next Budget is Actually Going to Contain

(Editor’s Note: A common complaint about media coverage of the state budget, the most important annual public policy action taken by lawmakers and the governor, is that far more attention is paid to what the governor proposes than what actually is enacted.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s revised budget seeks to close a gap between revenues of $15.4 billion, which climbs to $21.3 billion if the budget-related measures on the May 19 special election ballot fail.    Read more »

More

First New Oil Drilling in State Waters in 40 Years Part of Governor’s Revised Budget Plan

SACRAMENTO — Among the proposals in the Capital A austere revised budget Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled May 14 is collecting $100 million by allowing new oil drilling in state waters off the California coast for the first time in 40 years.

Awarding the lease would nullify a January ruling by the three-person State Lands Commission, which regulates drilling in the first three miles off the California coast.    Read more »

More

A Sorrowful Symmetry

On May 11, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger sent a letter to legislative leaders saying that, rather than wait until after the results of the May 19 special election he would present his revised budget plan on May 14. 

There is no doubt that on May 14, the GOP governor will unveil a litany of horrendously awful actions to close what he now estimates to be a budget gap for the fiscal year beginning July 1 of $15.4 billion.    Read more »

More

Legalizing Marijuana? Not Any Time Soon

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said on May 6 in Davis, a college town down the road from Sacramento, that while he doesn’t think its time to legalize marijuana in California, it’s time to debate it’s legalization.

He was asked his views on legalization by reporters in the context of the state’s continuing budget problems as a possible way to raise more revenue to help close what is likely to be a gap of more than $13 billion between revenue and spending commitments during the fiscal year that begins July 1.    Read more »

More

A Closer Look at Proposition 1C

At California Lottery outlets players will find a pad of three by five sheets of paper which in large letters says: Yeson1C with a checkmark through the “o” in “on.”

 In smaller letters beneath: “Improve the Lottery Now!”

Proposition 1C is one of six measures on the May 19 special election ballot.     Read more »

More

Assembly GOP Mike Villines to Resign, Sam Blakeslee the Likely Replacement

E.J Schultz of the Sacraemento Bee Capitol Bureau reports:

Assembly GOP leader Mike Villines of Clovis is expected to resign his leadership post tomorrow (May 7).

“Mike is going to be making an announcement tomorrow morning prior to a 9 a.m. caucus meeting,” said his spokeswoman, Jennifer Gibbons.

She would not discuss details but indications are that Villines will step aside after a more than two-year reign.     Read more »

More