Governor and Legislative leaders meet behind closed doors in bid to hash out budget

AP state wire ^ | July 2, 2005, 4:45 PM) | Tom Chorneau

[Amerigomag]

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders went behind closed doors Saturday in hopes of resolving the last obstacles to an agreement on the state budget.

[Amerigomag]

As many in the press, the legislature and on this forum have pointed out herein lies one of the major problems with California's budgeting process.

The "Big 5", privately negotiating California's budget, eliminates most of the elected representatives from the process, makes the process non-public on several levels, leads to abuses, creates arguments over legislative intent and is both extra constitutional and legally questionable.

It should be no surprise that Schwarzenegge, who continually strives to convey the image of a reformer, in reality is just another of the "good old boys" who continues to divide the spoils in back room meetings.

[goldstategop]

The Governor, the Democrats and the Republicans - the so-called "Big Five." Who knows what kind of bargain they'll strike.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)