The California Budget Crisis-- Sunday Floor Sessions Scheduled—With Some Seats Still Too Close to Call New Legislature in Two Weeks Will Take Over

Since then the Republican Governor has been meeting with Democratic and Republican legislative leaders in hopes of reaching some sort of agreement to bridge the budget gap. It was a few weeks ago in mid-September when the Legislature passed a State Budget for 2008-2009 that was delayed for nearly three months.

Election Update: Strickland Now Leads Close State Senate Race

Meanwhile several close races remain unresolved since the November 4 election, with Republican Tony Strickland now holding a very slender lead over Democrat Hannah-beth Jackson for the 19th State Senate seat, currently held by termed out Sen. Tom McClintock. McClintock himself faces an extremely tight race in the US 4th Congressional district (near Sacramento), where he continues to hold a small lead over Democrat Charlie Brown. See below for details.

State Budget Officials Warn Situation Will Grow Even Worse if Legislature Does Not Act Immediately

The non-partisan Legislative Analyst who reviews and analyzes state budget issues for the Legislature, warned the Legislature that failure to act now will mean an even larger budget shortfall that could grow to over $28 billion by the end of next State budget year that begins July 1, 2009 and ends June 30, 2010.

The Governor’s Department of Finance also warned – and the Legislative Analyst agreed, the failure by the Legislature to address the growing budget shortfall could mean that the State will run out of money and unable to pay its regular bills – a situation that could come as early as February. That would mean thousands of vendors including community-based organizations who provide supports and services to children and adults with disabilities, mental health needs, seniors and low income families face the real prospect of major delays in getting payments.

The State normally needs to borrow funds to cover the months when revenues temporarily drop. Both the Department of Finance and the Legislative Analyst agreed that if no action is taken on the growing budget shortfall, the State will not be able to find anyone to lend money.

RECENT CAPITOL DEVELOPMENTS

ASSEMBLY

Assembly Budget Committee met for just over 2 hours on Friday, November 14 to review the Legislative Analyst’s report on the Governor’s special session proposals. The committee also heard from the Department of Finance – the government agency that advises the Governor on state budget issues, the latest updates of the budget shortfall and a general overview of the Governor’s special session proposals. Those proposals include major permanent cuts to Medi-Cal, In-Home Supportive Services, regional centers, CalWORKS, SSI/SSP (Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Payment). The Assembly Budget Committee however, as expected, did not take any action, and also scheduled no further hearings.

STATE SENATE

Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee has not scheduled any hearings to date and has not held any special session hearings.

LATEST ELECTION RESULTS

Here are the latest results (as of Monday evening, November 17, 8:42 PM) of several close legislative races and two key and controversy ballot initiatives. None of the results are final – though in the case of Proposition 8, both supporters and opponents have agreed that it won – with the issue headed for the State Supreme Court.

US CONGRESS

The final outcome of this formerly solid Republican seat won’t affect the control that the Democrats have in the US House of Representatives.

US Congress – District 4

100.0% ( 807 of 807 ) precincts partially or fully reporting as of Nov. 17, 2008, at 8:42 PM
BROWN, Charlie (Democrat): 169,335 (49.9%)
McCLINTOCK, Tom (Republican): 169,957 (50.1%) ***LEADING***

STATE SENATE

Democrats want this seat badly – but even if they are able to win it, the would still be one vote short of the 2/3rds needed to pass a State budget (or “urgency” bills or bills raising taxes, etc) The Democrats currently hold 25 of the 40 State Senate seats – with Republicans currently holding 15. It takes 27 votes to pass a budget in the State Senate. If Strickland manages to win the seat – the numbers in the State Senate will remain the same.

State Senate District 19
100.0% ( 744 of 744 ) precincts reporting as of Nov. 17, 2008, at 8:42 PM.
Status Of Race: Still too close to call.
JACKSON, Hannah-Beth (Democrat): 189,223 (49.7%)
STRICKLAND, Tony (Republican): 191,411 (50.3%) *** LEADING***

ASSEMBLY

Democrats failed to win the 6 additional seats it needed to be able to pass a State budget without any Republican votes. Instead, they won for sure, 2 seats, moving their majority to 50, with Republicans winning or leading in the remaining 30 seats. If those numbers hold out – it would mean Assembly Democrats would still need 4 Assem bly Republican votes to pass a State budget (or raise taxes).

Assembly District 10
100.0% (491 of 491 ) precincts partially or fully reporting as of Nov. 17, 2008, at 8:42 PM
Status of Race: Still too close to call
BONSER, Janice M. (Libertarian): 12,229 (6.8%)
HUBER, Alyson L. (Democrat): 83,229 (46.3%)
SIEGLOCK, Jack (Republican): 84,175 (46.9%) ***LEADING**

Assembly - District 30

100.0% ( 444 of 444 ) precincts partially or fully reporting as of Nov. 17, 2008, at 8:42 PM
Status of Race: Republican Gilmore appears to have won this seat to succeed Democrat Nicole Parra, though close results are not yet official.
FLOREZ, Fran (Democrat): 40,153 (48.9%)
GILMORE, Danny D. (Republican): 41,837 (51.1%) ***LEADING – LIKELY WINNER***

STATEWIDE PROPOSITIONS

Several initiatives were on the November 4th California ballot – but only two drew controversy and a close vote. Proposition 11 continues to lead – though narrowly – and would put in place a dramatic change in how the State creates Assembly and State Senate districts (congressional districts were excluded from the initiative). Supporters say it will mean fairer and more competitive legislative districts that will lead to less grid-lock at the State Capitol. Opponents however – including the Democratic Party, say the measure would unfairly create districts that would favor Republicans.

Proposition 8 – Eliminates Right of Same Sex Couples to Marry
YES: 6,348,097 (52.2%) ***WON***
NO: 5,818,781 (47.8%)

Proposition 11 – Redistricting
YES: 5,544,069 (50.8%) ***LEADING ***
NO: 5,370,280 (49.2%)

The California Disability Community Action Network, is a non-partisan link to thousands of Californians with developmental and other disabilities, people with traumatic brain injuries, the Blind, the Deaf, their families, community organizations and providers, direct care, homecare and other workers, and other advoc ates to provide information on state (and eventually federal), local public policy issues.