Posted on 03/18/2006 8:28:58 AM PST by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO — A day after lawmakers failed to pass Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's bond plan for the June ballot, the governor and legislative leaders vowed Thursday to put a proposal before voters in November — though efforts will likely get tangled in the budget and election-year politics.
At the same time, Bay Area lawmakers attacked state government secrecy in light of the historic amounts of money in public works ballot bonds and in the wake of reports of dismal state compliance with the Public Records Act. Schwarzenegger remained optimistic about his $222 billion, multi-year plan to upgrade infrastructure. "As long as you're ambitious and as long as you're trying to fight for the people of California, this is OK that you sometimes don't make it all the way," he said. "That I can guarantee you, we will have it done this year. We will do it by November."
Late Wednesday night, on the absolute deadline for the June ballot, the Legislature failed to pass matching, compromise versions of Schwarzenegger's proposed infrastructure bond.
The Assembly passed two bills to place measures on the June ballot, one for $4.2 billion to repair levees and another for $10.4 billion to build new schools. A separate $9.1 billion school bond measure would have gone to voters in 2008.
The Senate, however, cited a lack of gubernatorial leadership and didn't take up the measures. Instead it voted to take $1 billion from the state budget for levees and then adjourned until Monday, letting the deadline expire.
Senate Republicans remained upset that the deal did not include money for additional water storage and dam projects in Northern California. They also preferred a pay-as-you-go approach, rather than borrowing so much through bonds.
Also, Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland, who has proposed his own infrastructure bond package, was looking for a more comprehensive deal rather than just breaking out the education and levee pieces.
Perata said he was disappointed that a deal could not be finalized, but said next week he would reveal plans on how to move the bond issue forward.
Schwarzenegger said Thursday he was pleased with the Assembly support and that those votes will serve as a starting point toward a complete package that will include transportation and affordable housing components and possibly surface water storage.
The governor's failure comes at a time when he is badly in need of a fresh success for his fall re-election campaign.
Schwarzenegger's likely opponents in the fall election campaign, Democratic candidates Treasurer Phil Angelides and Controller Steve Westly, jumped on the governor's failure, saying it demonstrates a lack of leadership.
At the same time, Assemblyman Johan Klehs, D-San Leandro, announced introduction of a bill — supported by other Bay Area lawmakers — that was inspired partly by the sheer size of the figures under debate for the public works bonds.
Klehs said his "Governmental Transparency Act would ensure that written and financial reports from state and local officials are accurate and complete." If passed, "there's also a glaring need to ensure that the bond money is being spent in ways the voters intend," he said.
The rejection left local civic leaders and transportation advocates disappointed, as they said the state's infrastructure is badly in need of immediate rehabilitation.
Klehs said this newspaper's reports on Bay Bridge and Oakland school woes in the past, and its recent story on state agencies' dismal compliance with the Public Records Act, "also fueled my concerns" and introduction this week of AB 2404 that would hold appointed state officials legally responsible for reports and testimony given to the Legislature.
The same would apply to local officials submitting fiscal reports to the state Controller's Office.
If state or local officials' reports are found to be inaccurate, or incomplete, they could be charged with perjury.
(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.")
I fail to understand how these politicians could possibly think this state could service $225 billion dollars worth of new bonds. At $225 billion dollars, I'd say this reveals Schwarzenegger to be more of a democrat than his most ardent detractors thought he was. Perhaps I'm wrong, but did anyone see Schwarzenegger proposing even $100 billion in new bonds? Perhaps some did.
I agree. Frustrate away state government. We could use a lot more of this.
(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.")
For the good of the state, I'd like to see Schwarzenegger step aside. His incompetence knows no bounds.
Not now!
A 340 lb., Democrat, who is most likely a Mexican citizen, would take his place.
Looks like you and I have about the same opinion of the California Republican party leadership.
What leadership?
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