Nunez snubs GOP on reopening budget
With the state budget now six weeks overdue and two weeks since the state Assembly approved its version, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez is rejecting a proposal the lower house reopen the spending plan.
In a letter to Senate Minority Leader Dick Ackerman, Nunez said he had no plans to bring the Assembly back into session until Aug. 20, when it will meet as expected.
"You have demanded that the Assembly reconvene to renegotiate on the budget, and you and your members have personally maligned me and the members of this house during the past two weeks," Nunez wrote.
"I want to be clear: the Assembly's work on the budget is complete and I will not convene the Assembly until August 20, in accordance with Joint Rules. Any clean-up legislation on the budget can be considered at that time."
The exchange was just part of a series of events on Wednesday as legislators continued to dicker over the spending plan. Republicans were expected to cite environmental issues as part of the reason to hold up the spending plan, while Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata indicating he will not allow any other legislation to be heard until the budget is resolved.
To see Nunez letter, keep reading:
August 8, 2007
Honorable Dick Ackerman
Republican Leader
California State Senate
State Capitol, Room 305
Sacramento, California 95814
Dear Senator Ackerman:
More than two weeks ago, the Assembly passed the 2007-08 budget and trailer bills and sent them to the Senate for concurrence. Despite strong bipartisan support in the Assembly, along with support of Senate Democrats, the Governor, and even a member of your own caucus, you and other members of your caucus have continued to block enactment. Unfortunately, these actions continue a trend that occurred during our numerous discussions on the budget throughout the spring – changing demands, no interest in compromise, and lack of an exit strategy.
You have demanded that the Assembly reconvene to renegotiate on the budget, and you and your members have personally maligned me and the members of this house during the past two weeks.
I want to be clear: the Assembly's work on the budget is complete and I will not convene the Assembly until August 20, in accordance with Joint Rules. Any clean-up legislation on the budget can be considered at that time.
As you know, we made numerous spending and policy concessions to you and your caucus in this budget. The budget makes deep cuts in a number of areas that were not acceptable to Assembly Democrats. But, in the spirit of compromise and an effort to enact a budget, we reluctantly agreed to these cuts. I am now alarmed to hear that the Governor has agreed to veto hundreds of millions of spending to meet your additional demands.
Should you continue to labor under the false impression that the return of the Assembly will result in more changes to the budget, you should understand the clear views of the Assembly Democratic Caucus.
First, any change would require restoration of the funding for the five-month delay in the SSI/SSP COLA for the poorest Californians who are aged, blind, or disabled.
Second, any change would require restoration of a substantial portion of the $1.3 billion that was diverted from public transportation to cover General Fund expenditures.
Third, our caucus will not consider any additional cuts to education programs or to the health and human services safety net.
Finally, we will not entertain discussions on reforms to CEQA or any revenue reduction measures as part of the budget. Those issues are clearly outside of this budget and have only been raised at the thirteenth hour to provide cover for your failure to act responsibly.
California's budget is now 37 days late, and the citizens are feeling the impacts. Some 82 of the 120 members of the Legislature, plus the Governor, are supporting this budget. I encourage you and the members of your caucus to immediately do the same.
Respectfully,
FABIAN NUNEZ
Speaker of the Assembly
cc: Honorable Don Perata
Honorable Mike Villines
Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger
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About The
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Los Angeles Daily News City Hall reporter Rick Orlov writes about politics on the local, state and national stage.
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