Feb 03 2009
The Big 5 and The Big 4
The Big 5 is the minority and majority leader from each house plus the governor. The Big 4 is simply the majority and minority leaders from each house.
These groups have been meeting continuously - or so they say. They also think that a budget deal is “near,” “close,” and “comming soon.”
I, and every other Californian, have been hearing these empty promises since December.
We first heard there would be a deal by Christmas, then the New Year, then before Feb 1st. All of those dates have come and gone and there hasn’t even been a serious floor debate about the proposal. Much less the committee hearings where people get to come and testify.
If the Big 5 have their way about it, this budget package will simply have a floor vote and be done. Not even the Big 5 can waive enough rules to skip the floor vote.
It seems as if a budget deal might be near. Some Republicans are coming down and saying they will vote for taxes if they get a hard spending cap. Some Democrats are saying they will vote for a spending cap if they get some new taxes. This merging of opinions always signals that there is a compromise close.
Lobbying groups can also hint that deals are close by spending money on commercials and propaganda as last minute efforts to get constituents involved to influence the legislators.
The CTA has been pumping money into a new add campaign designed to mislead the public. The proposal, which the Association of School Administrators supports, would ease restrictions on categorical money - money that must be spent in certain programs - in order to give school districts more money to cover the cuts made in education spending. The powerful education lobby is being split, and is spending a lot of money. This also signals a deal is near.
Lastly, Friday is the first furlough day in California. A judge ruled that the Governor did have the power to furlough state workers, and workers for Constitutional officers, and Friday is the first day this will happen.
All of these monumental events signal that a deal is near.
The next question is, will anyone know what the deal is before it is passed? Probably not. We shall see.
