Legislature Heading Into OT

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Senate President pro Tem Don Perata and Speaker Nunez today pushed off their scheduled voteson health care and water legislation until December 5th and 6th, leaving negotiators more time to craft the complex legislation being discussed with Governor Schwarzenegger.
 
Negotiations will continue on the health care front, with compromises being hammered out on financing, eligibility, and affordability. The plan is to continue to work until details are finalized on a policy bill to be voted on in December, with financing put on the November 2008 ballot by initiative. Republicans, with the exception of the Governor, refuse to support any financing proposals to cover the costs of universal health care.
 
On the water bond, Senate President pro Tem issued this statement late Tuesday:

"While we’ve had some productive discussions in recent days, we have yet to reach an agreement on how best to supply the clean drinking water California’s homes, farms and businesses need to grow and thrive.

But we cannot give up. The stakes are too high. There’s real potential for an agreement -- and the need to help California conserve this precious resource remains urgent. To help foster good-faith discussions, I will forgo circulating my Safe Drinking Water Act initiative for the time being.

Our top priority, given the recent warnings about California’s budget, should be to make the best possible use of the money voters have already earmarked for reducing pollution and protecting our water supply.

So we will keep working -- now and into the New Year -- because we recognize that providing an adequate supply of clean drinking water is vital to keeping California’s economy strong."

With the move, it appears that a water bond will no longer be able to appear on the February primary ballot. Health care financing proposals will still be able to make it on the November 2008 ballot, however.