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 »

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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 »

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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 »

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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 »

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Fuzio Universal Bistro — Be the Firecracker

 Foraging far a field from the Fuzio Universal Bistro’s firecracker pork, steak or chicken is foolhardy.

Some of the other offerings at the 9th and J St. eatery are hit and miss. The $9.50 bleu cheese chicken salad with penne pasta is a miss; the Chinese chicken salad a hit.

But when it comes to firecracker, Fuzio keeps the hits coming.    Read more »

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Today’s Lesson: Concurrent Resolutions and Moving the Previous Question

The California State Assembly spent the better part of 45 minutes on May 11 debating ACR 54.  An ACR is shorthand for “Assembly Concurrent Resolution.”

Concurrent resolutions are simply letters, practically speaking. They identify a problem and then offer ways of resolving it. They are not binding. They merely state intent.               Read more »

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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 »

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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 »

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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 »

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Attend This Fundraiser

Finally, a fundraiser at which an attendee gets something useful instead of rubber chicken or cocktails and weenies.

Three supporters of Sacramento Assemblyman Dave Jones, a Democrat running for insurance Commissioner, are hosting a fundraiser for Jones May 12 at Harv’s Car Wash at 1901 L St. in Sacramento.

That would suggest that Aaron Zeff, Doron Levitan and Ernesto Jimenez, the supporters in question, are owners of the long-standing car wash which now offers “green-certified” car washes.    Read more »

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