Budget Talks are about to Wind up

----- Forwarded Message -----From: "Marty Omoto" <martyomoto@rcip.com>To: <CDCANreportlist01@rcip.com>Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2009 00:05:25 -0700Subject: Re: CDCAN REPORT #227-2009: Democratic Leaders Now Say They AreHopeful for Budget Deal By SundayMessage-ID: <list-210470190@americanwebservices.com>
CDCAN REPORTCALIFORNIA DISABILITY COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORKADVOCACY WITHOUT BORDERS: ONE COMMUNITYREPORT #227-2009 JULY 17, 2009 – FRIDAYCalifornia Disability Community Action Network Disability Rights Newsgoes out to over 50,000 people with disabilities, mental health needs,seniors, traumatic brain & other injuries, veterans with disabilities andmental health needs, their families, workers, community organizations,including those in Asian/Pacific Islander, Latino, African Americancommunities, policy makers and others across California. REMEMBERING THELIFE OF JOAN B. LEE, DONALD ROBERTS, BILL YOUNG.To reply to this report write: MARTY OMOTO at martyomoto@rcip.com WEBSITE: www.cdcan.us TWITTER: www.twitter.com - “MartyOmoto”
California Budget CrisisDEMOCRATIC LEGISLATIVE LEADERS HOPEFUL OF BUDGET DEAL BY SUNDAY – “BIGFIVE” MEET FRIDAY EVENINGEducation Funding Remains Big Issue To Resolve - About 150 State Workersand People With Disabilities Protest At Governor’s Brentwood HomeAgainst Spending Cuts and Reductions
SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 07/17/09 10:50 PM (Pacific Time) - Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (Democrat – Sacramento) andAssembly Speaker Karen Bass (Democrat – Los Angeles) said Friday eveningthat they were hopeful that an agreement to close the state’s $26billion budget shortfall will be reached with the Governor and Republicanlegislative leaders by Sunday.
Aaron McLear, the Governor’s spokesman described the meeting as“productive”.
If an agreement is reached on Sunday, it will be sometime next week –possibly Tuesday or Wednesday – before it will come for a final votebefore the full Assembly and State Senate.
The two Democratic legislative leaders spoke following a meeting of the“Big Five” that includes Governor Schwarzenegger and the two Republicanlegislative leaders - Senate Republican Leader Dennis Hollingsworth(Republican – Murrieta) and Assembly Republican Leader Sam Blakeslee(Republican – San Luis Obispo). It was the first meeting of the fiveleaders since budget talks stalled late Wednesday.
Education funding remains the big issue that is holding up an agreement.No details were provided. Democratic leaders two weeks ago withdrewefforts to include in a budget deal any tax increases after the Governorand Republican leaders refused to support it.
Republican Votes Need To Pass Budget Plan If It Is To Take EffectImmediately· Democrats control the 80 member Assembly with 49 seats to theRepublicans 29 (there is 1 seat vacant due to the resignation of CurrenPrice) and 1 independent (Juan Arambula).· Democrats control the 40 member State Senate 25 seats to theRepublicans 15.· But passing legislation to take effect immediately uponapproval by the Governor – or to raise taxes – requires 2/3rds vote inboth houses – or 54 votes in the Assembly and 27 votes in the StateSenate.· That means Democrats – assuming they get every Democrat to votefor the budget plan, would still need at least 5 Assembly Republicanvotes (or the 1 independent vote of Juan Atambula and 4 AssemblyRepublican votes) and 2 Senate Republican votes.
State Employees & People With Disabilities Protest Outside Governor’s LAHomeIn another sign of growing tension and anxiety over the budget crisis andconcern of spending cuts and and other budget reductions, about 150 stateemployees and persons with disabilities protested outside the Governor’sresidence in Brentwood in Los Angeles. Two persons were arrested, citedfor trespassing and then released.
Disability advocate Marta Russell and Lillibeth Navarro, executivedirector of Communities Actively Living Independent and Free (CALIF) aLos Angeles based independent living center were among those protesting.Navarro was reportedly also one of the two persons arrested and cited.
Last week over 100 persons with disabilities, seniors and othersprotested outside the Governor’s office in the State Capitol, withseveral arrested, cited and released for failing to leave the buildingafter it closed.
Disability advocates are deeply concerned about what new or deeperspending cuts will be in any budget deal that emerges soon that impactspeople with disabilities, the blind, seniors, people with mental healthneeds, low income families, community organizations and workers thatprovide supports and services.
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