Sacramento: February 2008 Archives

TheCapitol Weekly is reporting that Assemblywoman Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, has put together the votes to become the next speaker of the state Assembly.
Bass, who has served as majority leader for Speaker Fabian Nunez, received a majority of support in the Democratic caucus to win the job.
Nunez helped put together the deal that put her over the top. Several legislators, including some who had hoped to be speaker themselves, announced as they left the meeting that Bass had won, the newspaper reported.

The state's bleak financial outlook continues to worsen, and California now faces a $16 billion deficit - up $1.5 billion from the governor's forecast just over a month ago, an independent budget analyst said Wednesday. Mike Zapler in the Daily News.

The assessment by the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office will likely compound the choices confronting Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state lawmakers as they craft a budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

"We certainly recognize that very tough decisions are ahead," Legislative Analyst Elizabeth Hill said. "A sacrifice will have to be made by all Californians in order for the state to get its fiscal house in order."

Health programs and schools took the biggest hits Friday as California lawmakers whittled more than $2billion from state programs during a budget crisis expected to lead to even harsher reductions in the weeks ahead. Harrison Sheppard in the Daily News.

Combined with other reductions, cash-shifting and borrowing, the cuts meant that state officials now have dealt with almost half of a $14.5 billion deficit projected over the next 18 months.

But they said they still expect it to be extremely difficult and painful to finish the task in hope of producing a balanced budget by June 30, and some fear that deficit projections could worsen.

As tens of thousands of Californians face losing their homes amid a roiling nationwide subprime-mortgage crisis, the Bush administration unveiled plans Tuesday for a reprieve for at-risk homeowners even as Golden State lawmakers push to clamp down on lenders and try to provide relief. Harrison Sheppard in the Daily News.

Under the Bush plan, six of the nation's largest financial institutions will work with homeowners who are 90 or more days overdue on monthly mortgage payments and offer them a 30-day delay in the foreclosure process.

Nearly a dozen bills in the state Legislature also include new disciplinary measures for abusive practices, public reporting requirements on the industry's efforts to help homeowners, new levels of scrutiny on potential borrowers, and restrictions on loan fees.

Meanwhile, back in California, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez revealed on Tuesday that he will have to undergo laser surgery to remove a throat nodule.

The Los Angeles Democrat said today that doctors have discovered a nodule in his vocal cord that will require laser surgery. Sacramento Bee.

"If this thing bursts, I'm going to have permanent damage to my vocal cord, so I've got to be very careful not to extend or overuse my voice," Núñez told the Sacramento Press Club at a downtown lunch.

Once the nodule is removed, Núñez said he will not be able speak for three weeks while recovering.

As yet another tax season approaches, California officials are cracking down on cheats and delinquent payers - estimated at more than 750,000 across the state - who owe billions of dollars from 2006 alone. Harrison Sheppard in the Daily News.

Now, with the state facing a massive budget crisis, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is proposing more funding to hire 500 employees for investigations and tax collections that he says could generate at least $126 million in net revenue for state coffers.

And state tax agents also have begun posting the names of the biggest delinquents online in an effort to capture more revenue.

Assembly Democrats decided in closed session today that Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez will remain as leader through the end of this year's legislative session and that his replacement will be selected March 11.
Sacramento Bee.

Núñez, surrounded by his Democratic Caucus, made the announcement after a lengthy caucus session.
If no Assembly Democrat has support from 25 of the 48 caucus members by March 11, more time will be given for campaigning, Núñez said.

Once a replacement is selected for Núñez, whose term expires Dec. 1, the winner will spearhead fundraising for this year's Assembly elections and later work with the outgoing leader on business of the house, according to the plan adopted today.

Over in the Senate, a more peaceful transition took place with President Pro Tem Don Perata stepping down in favor fo Darrel Steinberg of Sacramento. Steinberg edged out Sen. Alex Padlla of San Fernando for the post.

With voter rejection of Proposition 93 that would have changed term limits, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez is looking to give up his job in November and there is a crowded field developing to succeed him, the Sacramento Bee reports.
The list of candidates include a group of Southern Californians. Among them are Karen Bass, Kevin de Leon, Hector De La Torre, Alberto Torrico, Fiona Ma and Mike Feuer.

When a devastating series of wind-driven wildfires ripped last fall through Southern California, manpower ran short and equipment even shorter. Patricia Farrrell Aidem in the Daily News,

In the end, more than 2,000 homes were destroyed. And the vast acres of blackened ruins drew the spotlight to an overextended state firefighting system that needs emergency help of its own, especially as a growing number of homes are built in fire-prone areas.

Faced with a $14.5 billion state deficit, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed a surcharge on property insurance bills across-the-board to pay for more resources.