December 1, 2008

Legislature Convenes For Next Session

California Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg announced his priorities for the first half of the new legislative session. He outlined an aggressive agenda for the first 120-days of this session and for the budget adoption process. He called for a Committee of the Whole, where every Senator is a member of the Budget Committee with a meaningful budget subcommittee assignment. He set a budget passage timeline of May 15, 2009.

His 120-day agenda includes:

• Economic Stimulus—Start spending the 2006 infrastructure bonds at a more rapid allocation, implement fixes to the housing crisis, create a green energy business $100 million loan guarantee program.
• Health Care – Cover all children through coordination of First 5, private foundation and federal funds. After all children have access to health care coverage, start to develop a preventative health care system.
• Water Quality Improvement – Pass a water infrastructure bond for water quality improvement with supplemental action to improve the Sacramento/San Joaquin River Delta.
• Energy – Create and pass a comprehensive renewable energy policy.

After the first-120 days, he wants the Senate to start work on the reform of middle school and high school education programs with the goal of reducing the drop-out rate by 50% in four years, and create career pathways for all students.  

The Senate then did the work of organizing for the Regular Session and the expected Special Session to be called by the Governor.

Assembly Speaker Karen Bass outlined the need for leaving ideology and commitments behind to resolve the fiscal crisis. She announced the establishment of a Joint Senate and Assembly California Economy Recovery Task Force that will work with the Public Policy Institute of California. She also announced a Joint Senate and Assembly Special Joint Session for a comprehensive fiscal briefing by the State Treasurer, State Controller, Department of Finance and Legislative Analyst. Speaker Bass reiterated many of the concerns expressed by President Pro Tempore Steinberg.

The Senate and Assembly leadership elections were bipartisan.

~Dave Walrath

dwalrath@m-w-h.com