[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Many Painful Cuts

By Frank D. Russo

Yesterday, Republicans in the California State Senate withheld their votes for the package of bills that passed out of committee in the special session on this year’s state budget deficit, saying they had just been handed the legislation and had not had time to analyze the provisions in them. Earlier today, the Assembly Budget Committee, has passed a series of bills identical to those passed by their counterparts in the State Senate, most of them with the unanimous support of all on the committee who were in attendance, including Republican votes.

Some Republican Assemblymembers even voted to repeal the yacht tax loophole, causing Democratic Assemblymember Dave Jones to note this may be the first time he has been on the same side of an issue like this with Republican Member Chuck DeVore.

Republicans acknowledged in today’s hearings that these were painful cuts being made. Both Republicans and Democrats spoke with passion about many of these cuts—sometimes expressing hopes that when next year budget is adopted that some of the cuts can be reversed. The need for speed was acknowledged by all, as California is in danger of running out of funds to pay ongoing expenses.

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

A few quick points. First, on October 21, the San Mateo County Dem. Party is conducting a straw poll fundraiser. Rep. Kucinich will be there, as well as Sen. Speier for Hillary, Sen. Yee for Sen Edwards, and Steve Westly for Sen. Obama.

Also, please call the Governor to voice support for the California DREAM Act RIGHT NOW! He must sign/veto it by tomorrow. Call 916-445-2841, and then press 1(for english), 5 for Senate bills, 6 for SB 1, the California Dream Act, and then 1 to support.

What's on your mind?

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

The California Special Session on Water will see its first State Senate hearing today at 1:30 p.m. on a day that many Californians and most state workers have a holiday. Columbus Day is celebrated today in California, and for many it is a three day weekend. It could be the beginning of three days of action for the Senate.

The Senate Daily File for the Second Extraordinary Session gives a few clues. It shows that the Natural Resources and Water Committee will hear 5 bills that have been introduced with a pesky little asterisk stating "pending receipt." It also shows that a hearing is calendared for tomorrow of the Senate Appropriations Committee on the same bills with that asterisk. A Senate Floor Session is listed for both Tuesday and Wednesday "upon call of the President pro Tem."

This means that if a deal is struck in the Senate between Democrats and Republicans on bonds to be placed on the February ballot, the way is paved for passage in the next three days. Remember that it takes a two-thirds vote of both the California Senate and Assembly to place a bond before the voters.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

The California Senate passed over 100 bills yesterday, many of them going to the Governor, and others requiring agreement by the Assembly in amendments before the big guy will get his hands on them. They'll be back at it today.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

* Organizations line up to support SB 840; Partisan debate over merits
* Other health bills on children's coverage & drug trials are voted on in Assembly committees

By Anthony Wright
Executive Director of Health Access California

Tuesday was the last day for Senate health-related bills (aimed to be passed in 2007) to be heard in Assembly Health Committee. The Committee heard testimony into the evening.

SB840: First among the bills considered was SB 840, Sen. Shiela Kuehl’s universal, single-payer health reform measure. “If you don’t have single payer, someone is going to get left behind,’’ said Kuehl, in calling on lawmakers to support her legislation.

IN SUPPORT: The Assembly Health Committee approved SB840, but not before the regular stampede of dozens of organizations showed up to support the bill.

by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Working Californians blogs]

The legislature is in a flurry of activity, facing a deadline to get bills out of the Assembly and Senate. Three health care bills are moving along. Yesterday, SB840 (single payer) passed the senate again, on its way to almost certain passage in the Assembly. Today, the Senate passed SB 48, Perata's health care plan. All of the Republicans voted against it and they were joined by Sen. Lou Correa, who was also the lone vote against SB 840. The Assembly is scheduled to take up Speaker Nunez's AB8. Of course, there is no legislative vehicle for Arnold's health care plan, so it can't exactly be moved.

Hanh Kim Quach was watching the Senate debate and wanted to "spit nails" listening to Republican Sen. George Runner blow up an inflatable boogy man about rationing care.

"It opens the door to us deciding who's worth of health care and who isn't,'' Runner said.

Thankfully, Sen. Sheila Kuehl weighed in.

"We have rationing now. Rationing is not going to be imposed in a new plan. It's Darwinian. You have money. You can buy insurance. You have health care. You don't have money. You don't have insurance. You don't have health care.''

Right on Sen. Kuehl.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Sentencing Commission Bills, Florez E. Coli Food Safety Bills, Jones’ Flood Liability Bill Pass Floor Votes

By Frank D. Russo

In the last hour the California State Senate passed SB 840, the single payer universal coverage health care bill by Senator Sheila Kuehl. The vote was 22 to 14, with only Democratic votes in support and 13 Republicans joined by Lou Correa, the sole Democratic Senator against. This is similar to SB 840 of last year that was passed by both houses of the legislature and vetoed by the Governor.

Two other health care bills providing near universal coverage, AB 8 by Speaker of the Assembly Fabian Nunez, and SB 48 by Senate President pro Tem Don Perata, are expected to come up for votes tomorrow and pass floors of their respective houses of origin.

SB 110 (Romero) to create an independent non-partisan sentencing commission drawing upon the executive, judicial, and legislative branches of California’s government passed the Senate on a 24 to 14 vote with Democrats in support and Republicans and Lou Correa joining the Republicans in opposition. Romero told the Senate, “We can take the path of reform, or we can take the path of lost opportunity, squandered resources and eventual receivership of all aspects of our prisons.”