Well, the first thing I can say is that I am proud of our Senate Republicans — though AB 523 did pass out of the State Senate last night, it was not an easy process for this ‘kidney stone’ to pass out of that body. In the end, bill proponents were playing musical chairs trying to find someone to even be the ‘floor jockey’ on the legislation — but in the late hours of last night, the bill passed on a party line vote — with 21 Democrats voting yes, and even four Democrats declined to vote for the bill. A special ‘shout out’ to Orange County State Senate Republicans Dick Ackerman, Tom Harman, Bob Margett and Bill Morrow, none of who cast an aye vote for this ‘gifting of public funds’ for a television station.
So, now the question is what will happen to this bad bill as it comes up in the State Assembly today?
I have now had a chance to review the Assembly Republican Caucus analysis on the bill – and it is even more direct than that prepared by their State Senate counterparts. It is attached for your review, but I think the "Fiscal Impact" section of it speaks volumes:
FISCAL EFFECT
VERY MAJOR STATE REVENUE LOSS – This bill would allow for the possibility of a state revenue loss of roughly $18,000,000 million, to the extent that the bill allows the sale of state property for less than fair market value.
AND THIS IS A RESTATED IN THE VERY LAST COMMENT ON THE ANALYSIS
AB 523 will allow the District to complete the sale to the non-profit, secular Foundation for roughly $22,000,000 when an able buyer, a private company principally broadcasting Christian oriented programs, is willing to buy the station for $40,000,000. That would result in the state losing $18,000, 000
Obviously it is clear that Republicans have seen this bill for what it is, but, of course, the Assembly is controlled by the Democrat Party. So we’ll have to see how it goes!
We are also hoping that this bill, the winner of the FlashReport Golden Trash Can Award, is on the radar screen of Richard Costigan and others on the Governor’s staff — as it may come down to our Republican Governor rejecting this stinky, smelly bill!