Update: The Assembly session for Wednesday noon is canceled with no new session yet scheduled.
Now that we have a new record for lateness for the state budget, perhaps we can get down to wrapping one up. [The true lateness record for a budget receiving a governor’s signature is Sep 5]
Both houses worked Sunday to finish the years legislation as the 31st was the last day to get ‘normal’, check that, ‘regular’ bills out. The Assembly finished about 5:30 PM and I heard the Senate gaveled down at 1 PM, right in the middle of a bill presentation, with others still on their file. Oh well.
The budget sides are almost as equally polarized between the Assembly and Senate Dems themselves as it is a Reep vs Dem thing. Now with the ‘distractions’ behind us of the Dem convention and the deadline for legislation, with the 2 houses holding the others bills hostage, exchanging a few at a time each day, the budget should be the only focus.
Lost in the stalling antics were the opportunity to place any constitutional questions on the ballot for November. A true budget spending limit or a so-called rainy day fund. Or for that matter a decent water bond for voters to contemplate as we watch our water supply diminish. But hey, we ‘fixed ‘ the High Cost Rail bond so we’ll have that going for us.
As we finished up on Sunday the word was that the Senate vowed to meet everyday at 4 PM if but for a few minutes, to talk about the budget. The Assembly is back in tomorrow at noon on the same topic but at this moment, I don’t see an agreement that soon.
That said, our Assembly leader Mike Villines has done a great job of remaining firm and consistent on what will be required for this budget to work, and keeping our caucus together and informed. That goes for Sen. Dave Cogdill as well as he and Mike are on the same page and not bashful to tell the rest of the Big 5 that taxes are not the solution to this mess. Hats off to you guys.