Lawmakers move forward on bond package

Sacramento Bee ^ | 4/18/6 | Andy Furillo

[SmithL]

SAN JOSE -- Legislative leaders Tuesday said they have reached a key compromise over an infrastructure bond plan for California, with Republicans giving up their demand for surface water storage projects and Democrats relenting on their insistence that the package include money for urban parks and natural resource protections.

The movement was disclosed at a panel discussion in San Jose on the infrastructure plan that featured the Assembly and state Senate leaders. Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, D-Los Angeles, in a the discussion held as part of the Bay Area Council's day-long look at California issues, predicted that a deal will come together within the next month and be ready for the November ballot.

"Not everyone is going to get what they want but California is going to get what it needs," Núñez said.

[SmithL]

They're ignoring the low-cost housing issue.

[goldstategop]

How big will this new bond be? Assuming they can get past the politics and get it on the November ballot.

(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.")

[calcowgirl]

Whether affordable housing should be a part of the infrastructure discussion, however, remains as a point of contention. Perata said housing has to be part of the deal, although he said its elimination would not necessarily dismantle negotiations. Schwarzenegger was scheduled to address the council on infrastructure later Tuesday.

So, how can a deal be close? Let' hope our Republican legislators have a strong enough spine to block this.

[calcowgirl]

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/14371172.htm

The Republican and Democratic leaders of the state Senate and Assembly said Tuesday they are optimistic that a $30 billion to $34 billion bond agreement will emerge within the next month.

"In the three weeks working together, we've got 80 percent of things agreed to and we're honing in on the last 20 percent," said Don Perata, the Democrat in charge of the Senate. "It's come down to old fashioned horse trading ... Not everybody will get what they want."

The deal would be a significantly scaled-down version of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's $68 billion bond proposal announced in January. That money would have been used as matching funds to attract roughly $222 billion for roads, education, water delivery and storage and levee repair.

[calcowgirl]

They're ignoring the low-cost housing issue.

They also seem to be ignoring the 'pay as you go' option. From the Merc News:

Republicans are no longer pushing for new dam building. And Democrats aren't wedded to park-building projects and are willing to pay the bond back from the state's general fund, rather than create new sources of funding to pay down the new debt.

[goldstategop]

The voters are disenchanted with politics. Its hard to find a real difference between the two parties these days. They agree on borrowing and spending!

(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.")