Senate GOP Signals Intent to Hold Up State Budget on Environmental, Workplace Issues

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

There they go again.

After needlessly holding up the budget for months last summer with the same failed strategy, Senate Republicans yesterday signaled their intent to try to weaken the state's environmental and labor laws as the price for their support of the state budget again this year. Included in this year's demands are a delay in the state's landmark global warming law, repeal of the eight-hour day labor law signed by Gov. Davis, a plan to aid the health insurance industry, and relaxing compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Sen. George Runner, R-Lancaster, put it bluntly, according to a report in the San Diego Union Tribune. "We are putting this on the table for the budget negotiations. You are not going to see these necessarily as bills floating around in the Legislature somewhere -- only to have a 10-minute hearing and be dismissed."

So once again, the Republicans are dragging non-budget issues into the budget fight.

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