Recent Posts
July 2nd, 2009 at 8:58 pm
- Governor’s List of Cuts In “July Budget Revision”
- State Furloughs, Cuts to Education, UC and CSU
- No Additional Cuts To Health & Human Services
Governor Says Many of His Proposals Submitted in Late May Still Need To Be Enacted In Early July - Budget Agreement Could Be Near
SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 07/02/09 6:07 PM (Pacific Time)] - With rumors that a possible agreement to resolve California’s over $26 billion budget shortfall could be reached by early next week, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s list of cuts - with no details - referred to as the “July Revision” contains additional major reductions that total $4.882 billion in order to make up for lost education funding cuts proposed in late May by the Governor but not acted on in time by the Legislature, in a two page letter, dated July 1, to Sen. Denise Ducheny (Democrat - San Diego), chair of the State Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee and Assemblymember Noreen Evans (Democrat - Santa Rosa), chair of the Assembly Budget Committee. [Copy of the 2 page letter from the Governor's Department of Finance to the Assembly and Senate Budget Committee chairs is available on the CDCAN website at www.cdcan.us (alternate download location)]
The overall impact of the reductions proposed by the Governor are similar to what legislative Democrats - and Assembly Republicans - voted for in three bills to address the “cash crisis” but failed to win crucial support from Senate Republicans, causing the measures to go down into defeat during the last minutes of the 2008-2009 State budget year Tuesday evening.
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July 2nd, 2009 at 7:55 pm
We’ve been planning to expand this site to include other features for a more interactive experience for our readers. We have recently set up a gallery for users to browse pictures of past events. While there are not many pictures from past events, users are encouraged to register and even post pictures of their own efforts. Grassroots efforts and events such as these are cropping up all the time from all over the state and need to be publicized.
In our local area (Ukiah, CA) our Redwood Coast Regional Center consumer advocate in conjunction with Area Board 1 on Developmental Disabilities has put together rallies to protest the massive and deep cuts the Governor has conveyed are necessary to get back on track to prosperity. He has also planned for another event later this month.
We also have been toying with the idea of installing multi-user blogging software so people may share their experiences with others around the state and the nation. The tool’s purpose is to make it easy to post and publish information to the Internet without having technical expertise to use FTP programs or design web pages. It is a simple interface much like Microsoft Word, Open Office or other popular word processing programs used to produce information.
We have not yet committed to installing multi-user blogging software because we are unsure if people would use it. Web logging is not necessarily meant to be an every day effort as one blogger cites quality always tops quantity. We want to offer a place to vent frustrations and celebrate triumphs and truly connect public policymaking to those it affects most.
What do you think? Would you use it? Do you think others would use it? Are there too many other sites offering the same features to make it virtually impossible to gain momentum? Please click on this story’s title and use the comments feature at the bottom of the page to voice your opinion.
July 1st, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Area Board 10 out of Los Angeles developed a fact sheet for the changes to the Lanterman Act and changes/cuts in services slated to take effect today or in the near future.
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July 1st, 2009 at 2:43 pm
STATE SENATE CANCELS ALL POLICY COMMITTEE HEARINGS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO BUDGET CRISIS
SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 07/01/09 2:07 PM (Pacific Time)] - With the state’s deficit now at over $26 billion and growing, a grim Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (Democrat - Sacramento) said on the Senate floor that he was canceling - until further notice - all Senate policy committee hearings so the house could focus on the budget crisis after today (to allow committees that were holding hearings already to finish up their work).
Senate Education Committee will only lift the calls on bills already heard this morning - and postpone hearings on other bills per the order of the Senate President. Senate Health Committee canceled its hearing today. Senate Local Government Committee will meet to finish up its business in Room 112 in the State Capitol.
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July 1st, 2009 at 2:38 pm
ASSEMBLY PASSES BY MAJORITY VOTE DEMOCRATIC REVISED BUDGET PLAN CONTAINED IN AB 10x3 AND AB 19x3 THAT SENATE PASSED TUESDAY EVENING
Bills Are Identical To What Assembly Passed Sunday and Senate Passed Monday By Majority Votes - and That Governor Vetoed Early Tuesday Evening - Governor Vows To Veto Bills Passed Today
SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 07/01/09 1:49 PM (Pacific Time)] - The Assembly passed by majority votes, the Democratic revised budget plan contained in AB 10x3 (the “x3″ stands for the third special or extraordinary session) and AB 19x3 that the State Senate approved Tuesday evening - also by a majority vote. Democrats, who control both houses, used a procedure that avoided the need for any Republican votes - but would mean that none of the bills - including several budget trailer bills that make changes in state law to implement the spending reductions - cannot take effect any sooner than 90 days upon approval by the Governor - if he signs the bills.
The Assembly passed the main revised budget bill that contained about $11 billion in spending cuts and funding shifts contained in AB 10x3 by a vote of 46 to 26. That bill is identical to what the Assembly passed on Sunday in SB 16x3, which the Governor vetoed Tuesday evening. The Assembly then approved the second bill, dealing with tax administration, acceleration of the collection of existing taxes and increased enforcement, contained in AB 19x3 by a vote of 44 to 29. That bill is identical to SB 17x3 which the Assembly approved Sunday and the Governor vetoed on Tuesday. No Republicans joined the Democrats in passing the two bills.
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July 1st, 2009 at 1:29 pm
GOVERNOR’S EXECUTIVE ORDER IMPLEMENTS THIRD FURLOUGH DAY AS STATE’S BUDGET CRISIS GROWS WORSE AS DEFICIT CLIMBS TO OVER $26 BILLION - STATE NOW CERTAIN TO ISSUE IOUs
SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 07/01/09 12:43 PM (Pacific Time)] - As previously reported, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued an executive order late this morning that puts into effect a third mandatory unpaid furlough day for nearly all state employees, beginning July 10th and on the subsequent two Fridays, every month through at least June 30, 2010. The mandatory unpaid furlough days would equal about a 15% cut in their pay.
The Governor also conceded that it was now certain that - barring a budget solution that all parties could agree on - the threat of IOUs to pay many of the state’s bills would be a reality this week [there are some exceptions - pay to IHSS workers, state employees, SSI/SSP recipients would continue and not be paid by IOUs]
The Governor said he no choice but to issue the order due to the unresolved budget crisis - that he says has now grown to over $26 billion.
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July 1st, 2009 at 1:25 pm
GOVERNOR SAYS HE WILL VETO DEMOCRATIC REVISED BUDGET BILLS - CALLS NEW SPECIAL SESSION & DECLARE “FISCAL EMERGENCY”
Orders 3rd Mandatory State Employee Furlough Beginning July 10th - Wants Revised Budget Plan That Addresses “Entire Problem”
SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 07/01/09 11:59 AM (Pacific Time)] - Saying the budget hole now is over $26 billion, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said this morning in a press conference at the State Capitol that he has issued a new executive order declaring a fiscal emergency and called a new legislative special session to address this emergency, under the voter approved Proposition 58.
“Though the legislature failed to solve our budget problem yesterday, rest assured that solving the entire deficit remains my first and only priority, and I will not rest until we get it done. I will not be a part of pushing this crisis down the road - the road stops here” Governor Schwarzenegger
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July 1st, 2009 at 12:18 am
SENATE REPUBLICANS REFUSE SUPPORT ON CASH CRISIS BILLS - ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS & REPUBLICANS OKAYED BILLS LAST WEEK - STATE WILL BEGIN PAYING WITH IOUs
The Three Bills Would Reduce and Move $3 Billion in Funding from K-12 Education, CSU and UC Current Year Budget Making Cash Available to Pay State’s Bills and Avoid Need for IOUs Temporarily
SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 06/30/09 11:58 PM (Pacific Time)] - State Senate Republicans, saying they wanted a complete and not a partial budget solution, refused to support 3 bills that would have provided over $3 billion in cash for the State Controller to pay vendors and other reimbursements instead of IOUs - a situation he warned wlll happen as early as July 2 unless a budget plan was in place. The State Senate adjourned just after midnight and will reconvene Wednesday morning at 10:00 AM.
Unlike the Democratic revised budget bills passed by both houses with simple majority votes by-passing the need for Republican votes - the 3 cash crisis related bills require 2/3rds vote (54 votes in the 80 member Assembly and 27 votes in the 40 member State Senate) because the bills have an “urgency” clause - meaning it would take effect immediately after the Governor approves it. That urgency provision is necessary if the $3 billion is to be available immediately to avoid the need for the State Controller to issue IOUs to pay the state’s bills this week.
Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (Democrat - Sacramento) clearly exasperated almost pleaded with Senate Republicans to support the measures because of the amount of money that would be lost - and making the 2009-2010 deficit even larger. Senate Democrats said the loss would total over $7 billion into the 2009-2010 and beyond.
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July 1st, 2009 at 12:10 am
ASSEMBLY ADJOURNS FOR NIGHT - SENATE STILL IN SESSION - HOPE REPUBLICANS WILL BACK 3 BILLS TO AVERT NEED FOR IOUs
State Senate Passes Revised Budget and 7 Budget Trailer Bills - Budget Trailer Bills Dealing with Education, Health & Human Services Previously Approved In Assembly By Majority Vote Sunday Evening
SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 06/30/09 10:54 PM (Pacific Time)] - The State Senate earlier this evening passed the Democratic revised budget plan contained in AB 10x3, (the “x3″ refers to the 3rd special or extraordinary session) and also 7 budget trailer bills, all by majority votes with no support from Senate Republicans, that appears to be identical to a bill passed by both houses with majority votes on Sunday and Monday. That bill - SB 16x3 - was vetoed earlier this evening by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Democrats used a procedural move to by-pass the need for Republican votes - but doing so - assuming the Governor approves the bills, means none of the bills take effect until 90 days after the Governor signs it. The Governor however indicated earlier this evening that he intends to veto the bills (see below).
The budget trailer bills dealing with education, health, human services and developmental services are the same bills approved by the Assembly Sunday evening, also by majority votes.
The Assembly adjourned for the day just around 10 PM, and meets tomorrow (Wednesday, July 1) upon the call of the Assembly Speaker to take action on at least two of the bills that the State Senate passed this evening that contains the Democratic plan to close at least $23 billion of the $24 billion budget shortfall.
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June 30th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
GOVERNOR VETOES EARLIER THIS EVENING TWO DEMOCRATIC PROPOSED BUDGET BILLS
SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 06/30/09 09:05 PM (Pacific Time)] - Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed earlier this evening (June 30) the two bills passed by Assembly and Senate Democrats on Sunday and Monday that they said would close about $21 billion or so of the $24 billion budget shortfall.
Senate Democrats shortly afterwards passed by majority votes, two bills that appear to be identical to the bills the Governor just vetoed, in addition to several budget trailer bills that the Assembly previously approved on Sunday. Those two bills head to the Assembly for approval. It is not certain what the Governor will do with those bills once it reaches his desk. Democrats say their plan now does not contain any new tax increases - though it is not clear how they make up the $2 billion in new tax increases that they previously included in their plan. Senate and Assembly Democrats say they will not make any deeper spending cuts that the Governor and legislative Republicans have demanded as part of a budget deal.
The two bills the Governor vetoed earlier this evening were SB 16x3 (the “x3″ stands for third special or extraordinary session) would have made about $11 billion in spending cuts, fund shifts and other reductions and SB 17x3 which would have increased revenues through changes in state withholding taxes, increased tax enforcement and other changes.
Both bills were passed with majority votes only by the Democrats who control both the State Senate and Assembly using a procedure that by-passed the need for Republican votes.
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