Republican legislators in the State Capitol (at least on the Assembly side) now have copies of the actual bill language to be voted on as early as tomorrow. The GOP Caucuses should be scanning these documents (provided to legislators in printed format only, of course, by Democrats) and posting them on the web right away — like NOW.
Republicans have called for transparency in the process and now is the time to prove it. Once that information is up onm the web, that should start a 72 hour countdown. Republicans should refuse to put up any votes for any of the bills until the public has had three full days to read it, understand it, and provide input to legislators.
Just a few months ago we had a b udget deal that was cloaked in secrecy. As a result, many legislators voted for a supposed spending cap that, upon analysis from experts outside of the Capitol, turned out to be swiss cheese. Let's not do this again.
If a legislative deal is so fragile that it cannot hold up under public scrutiny, then it isn't a good deal.
Please contact your GOP legislator and them that you expect 72 hours to be able to look over those bills before they vote. The credibility of the legislative process and of our party is on the line.
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:00 am
Senator Hollingsworh
We did not get full and open hearings in the public or committee’s that i am aware of ?
http://www.pe.com/localnews/politics/stories/PE_News_Local_S_bigfive08.4995a88.html
“Senate Minority Leader Dennis Hollingsworth, R-Murrieta, wants all budget talks to take place in public or be aired in the Legislature’s budget-writing committee before going to floor votes. So far, his stance seems to have curbed the secrecy that marked months of budget negotiations leading up to a February budget vote.”
Since we did not get full and open hearings , can you please take Jon’s request to heart , and ask for 72 hours to make our voices heard to our senators and assemblymen before you schedule the vote on the budget bill.