[California] Bond talks race the clock

Sacramento Bee ^ | 3/10/6 | Andy Furillo and Clea Benson

[SmithL]

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Thursday that he and legislative negotiators are on the verge of forging what he described as a historic infrastructure bond package that would be submitted to California voters on the June 6 primary ballot.

"We're very close to coming to an agreement," Schwarzenegger said Thursday afternoon, just before ... meetings he has conducted in his office the past four days with Democratic and Republican leaders.

"We have some hurdles to overcome and some obstacles to overcome," Schwarzenegger said, "but I have great hopes."

The Senate and Assembly had scheduled late sessions Thursday but adjourned so the governor and legislative leaders could continue talks on a compromise package to build highways, schools and levees.

The Assembly adjourned until Monday, but told members to be on call through the weekend. The Senate was to return today.

State Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland, promised a vote by midnight tonight.

"We're still in the throes of negotiations," Perata said during an impromptu press conference after shutting down the Senate for the night. "We're making progress. The governor, the speaker and I have agreed that as long as we're making progress and still have time under the deadline, we'll continue to work. We'll continue to work through the night. We're treating (Friday) night at midnight as the deadline."

Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, D-Los Angeles, said he was "optimistic about the progress we are making."

"We're going to burn the midnight oil," Núñez said in a statement. "There are many pieces to this jigsaw puzzle, and we're determined to work it out."

Schwarzenegger had initially proposed a $222 billion "strategic growth plan" built on a 10-year bond plan that eventually grew to $71.5 billion. The bond package is now believed to be in the $47 billion to $50 billion range.

[SmithL]

Today's the deadline for a June Ballot.

[Carry_Okie]

I hope they don't make it. I'd rather see each project financed appropriately (preferably by internal revenues, such as gas taxes for highways) and decided on its merits.

[goldstategop]

No mention of whether Republican concerns where addressed. I'd say its a sign a deal is a long ways off.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[Amerigomag]

Two things are certain:

1) All of California's taxpayers are going to be asked to underwrite the infamous LAUSD. Millions of taxpayer dollars are going to be proposed to provide foreign aid to Mexico's failing, northernmost, public school district.
2) Simply voting NO on any bonding cooked up by the liberal triad will be a wise decision.