CA: Delay Governor's Prop 49?

Capitol Notes / KQED ^ | 2/16/06 | John Myers

[NormsRevenge]

An effort is about to get underway to attempt to delay the implementation of the initiative on which Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger cut his political teeth: after-school programs.

Senator Tom Torlakson (D-Antioch) plans to introduce a proposed constitutional amendment to delay the implementation of Proposition 49. The measure, campaigned for by Schwarzenegger and approved by voters in 2002, is expected to cost the state an extra $428 million in the coming fiscal year.

Prop 49 was written in such a way as to only trigger when the state's revenues reached an adequate level. But the Legislature's non-partisan analyst has been suggesting for months that lawmakers may want to ask the voters to rethink Prop 49's funding formula, given the state budget's battle with recurring deficits.

Torlakson's proposal, which has not yet been formally introduced, would require that all money owed to public schools under the Proposition 98 guarantee be paid back before Prop 49 would ever kick in. Of course, there's still some dispute as to how much money is still owed under previous budget deals. Education advocates say the total IOU is $3.2 billion, and they have recently complained that the new after-school funding will crowd out money needed elsewhere.

The new legislation would require a two-thirds vote of both houses to make it to the ballot, but would not need the governor's signature.

[calcowgirl]

...Proposition 49. The measure, campaigned for by Schwarzenegger and approved by voters in 2002...

Schwarzenegger and... Richard Riordan, the Unions, and all sorts of socialist.

Torlakson's proposal, which has not yet been formally introduced, would require that all money owed to public schools under the Proposition 98 guarantee be paid back before Prop 49 would ever kick in.

He should add Prop 42 to that. They still owe the Transportation fund about $3 Billion, too.