CA: Legislature approves record public works spending plan - $37.3 billion package

ap on San Diego Union - Tribune ^ | 5/5/06 | Samantha Young - ap

[NormsRevenge]

SACRAMENTO – State lawmakers early Friday approved a series of bills that would place a record public works spending plan before voters in November, reviving a proposal that had broad public support but failed to pass the Legislature earlier this year.

The $37.3 billion package would be the largest bond issue in California history and now goes to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The governor, who proposed an even larger spending plan in January, called the votes in each house “a landmark accomplishment that will yield benefits for generations to come.”

“For the first time in a generation, we are making a real investment in our state's future,” he said in a statement issued shortly before 3:30 a.m. Friday, after the votes in the Assembly sent the bills to his desk.

The version passed by the Assembly and Senate asks voters to approve four propositions: $19.9 billion for roads and transit projects; $10.4 billion for school and university buildings; $4.1 billion for flood control; and $2.85 billion for affordable housing projects.

“The Legislature came together and put its arms around an investment that hasn't been made in decades,” Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez said.

State Sen. President Pro Tem Don Perata said the projects funded through the bond package will have an impact on Californians' daily lives.

“It's a good, solid piece of investment that will help fortify California's middle class,” he said.

Schwarzenegger had made passing a massive public works spending plan the centerpiece of his re-election year agenda. During his state of the state address in January, the Republican governor proposed selling $68 billion in bonds to help pay for $222.6 billion in spending over 10 years.

An attempt to place a smaller bond measure on the June ballot failed in March when lawmakers and the governor could not reach a compromise. Despite the legislative setback, polls showed that Schwarzenegger's proposal to upgrade the state's highways, bridges, schools, levees and water systems had broad public support.

He had been involved in the talks between legislative leaders in recent weeks, even as he remained in the background Thursday while the parties negotiated the final details.

Lawmakers of both parties wanted to strike a deal before they began negotiations over next year's state budget. Those talks will begin after the governor releases his revised spending plan next week.

The package passed by the Assembly and Senate is only about half the amount of borrowing originally sought by Schwarzenegger. But the governor said he was pleased with the result, thanking leaders of both parties and praising the bipartisanship that ultimately led to the deal.

The votes of at least two Republicans in the Senate and six in the Assembly were required to get the two-thirds majorities required to approve the bond bills.

Assembly Republicans had wanted some rollbacks in environmental reviews for construction projects and greater use of contracts in which one company both designs and builds a project.

The Senate passed bills related to both those policy initiatives. But Assembly Republicans refused to support the bill dealing with the so-called design-build provision for new construction, in part because they were not happy with the language.

Both houses also approved a bill allocating $500 million from state reserves for immediate levee repairs and a constitutional amendment to protect Proposition 42 gas tax money for road projects.

“It's about time we stepped up and made the investment,” said Assembly Minority Leader George Plescia, R-La Jolla.

[NormsRevenge]

What we are seeing isn't really happening , you know. It's all special effects. See how easily they made 'Pay as you go' disappear. On to Prop 13 next.

It's not real money anyway, it's just borrowed paper.

Altho you would think that what investment bankers and brokerages will make off of this little package ought to concern some, especially how much of it comes back to politicos who are greasing the skids for this latest attempt at fleecing the taxpayers.

[Ben Mugged]

Unless the "Public Works" includes a wall across the Mexico California border I'll vote no.

[NormsRevenge]

Oh fine, But if you don't support it, then you'll be considered a demRat here at FR... (even tho dems will overwhelmingly support it). ;-)

Makes ya wonder who truly has lost their sense of direction or party identity.

[sheana]

Since the last estimate of what illegals cost California was about $10 bil a yr, and that excluded many items, It would take a little over 2 yrs to pay for something like this with that amount of money.
They can use the money they are wasting on illegals instead as far as I am concerned.

[FOG724]

Oh fine, But if you don't support it, then you'll be considered a demRat here at FR...

This is true. If you don't support the liberal party line and march in lock step then you are supporting the Dems according to many Freepers who will remain unnamed. Fair Opinion will be around with your dose of Kool-Aide soon.

[freekitty]

ROTFLMAO. Right, this is really going to happen. It's our money guys. Take it back.

[Amerigomag]

$10.4 billion for school

An illegal circumvention of the educational funding code designed to underwrite the failing LAUSD; well out of proportion to their actual student enrollment.

Just say NO.

[calcowgirl]

Here's the whole package of the Strategic Growth Plan--according to Perata:

Bonds—all November 2006 ballot (54 votes)

SB 1266 / SB 86—Transportation $19.9725 billion
SB 1689 / SB 364—Housing 2.850 billion
AB 140 / SB 87—Flood protection 4.090 billion
AB 127 / SB 79--Education Bond 10.416 billion
Total $37.3285 billion

Appropriation bill (54 votes)
AB 142 / SB 524—$500 million (General Fund) for pay-as-you-go levee repair

Policy bills (41 votes)
AB 143 / SB 59—Design-build
AB 1039 / SB 677—Environmental streamlining
AB 1467 / SB 797—Public-private partnerships

-------------------

AB 127 / SB 79
Education bond: $10.416 billion

K-12 facilities: $7.329 billion
o $1.9 billion for new construction
o $3.3 billion for rehabilitation and modernization
o ($200 million for small high schools—included in new construction and modernization above)
o $1 billion for hyper-dense overcrowded schools
o $500 million for career technical education facilities
o $500 million for charter schools
o $100 million for “green” schools
o $29 million for joint use facilities

Higher education: $3.087 billion
o $1.580 billion for UC and CSU
o $1.5 billion for community colleges

SB 1266 / SB 86
Transportation & air quality bond: $19.925 billion

Mobility, transit, congestion relief: $17.250 billion
o $4.5 for high priority corridor improvements
o $1 billion for State Highway 99 Enhancement Plan
o $2 billion for trade infrastructure
o $2 billion STIP augmentation
o $4 billion for rail, bus, transit improvements
o $750 million for SHOPP and ITS
o $1 billion for State-Local Partnership Program
o $2 billion for local streets and roads

Safety, security, disaster preparedness: $1.525 billion
o $1 billion for transit safety and disaster response (new program)
o $100 million for Port Security Program
o $125 million for local bridge seismic retrofit
o $250 million for grade separations.

Air quality: $1.2 billion
o $1 billion for port air quality
o $200 million for school bus retrofit and replacement

SB 1689 / SB 364
Housing and land use bond: $2.85 billion

Affordable housing: $1.50 billion
o $345 million for multifamily housing
o $300 million for Cal Home homeownership program
o $200 million for CHADAP downpayment assistance program
o $195 million for supportive housing
o $135 million for farm worker housing
o $125 million for the Building Equity and Growth in Neighborhoods (BEGIN) Program
o $100 million for affordable housing innovation
o $50 million for homeless youth housing
o $50 million for domestic violence shelters

Infill incentives: $850 million (up to $200 million available for urban parks)

Housing-related parks in urban, suburban, and rural areas: $200 million

Transit oriented development: $300 million

AB 140 / SB 87
Flood protection bond: $4.090 billion

$3 billion for levee inspection, repair, flood control improvements, and delta levee protection
$500 million for flood control subventions
$290 million for flood corridors, bypasses, and flood plain mapping
$300 million for storm flood management

 

 

[calcowgirl]

And here is the Nunez Version:

SPEAKER FABIAN NUÑEZ 46TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT For Immediate Release: May 5, 2006 Contact: Steve Maviglio Phone: (916) 319-2408

Assembly Passes Record Public Works Bond Package

Record Investments Approved for Schools, Roads, Flood Control, Housing

Sacramento – The California State Assembly tonight passed the largest public works bond package in the state’s history – four bonds totaling $37.281 billion to improve the state’s roads, schools, levees, and provide affordable housing. The bonds will be put on the November 2006 ballot for voter approval.

“This is an investment in our children, adults and senior citizens. But more importantly, this is an investment in California’s future,” said Speaker Fabian Núñez. “Today is a proud day for California.”

The four bonds include:

• Transportation (SB 1266) -- $19.925 billion;
• Housing (SB 1689) -- $2.850 billion;
• Education (AB 127) -- $10.416 billion; and
• Flood Protection (AB 140) -- $4.09 billion.

In addition, the Assembly approved $500 million in general funds for levee repair (AB 142) as well as a constitutional amendment (SCA 7) to protect Prop 42, which guarantees funds from the gas tax go to improve the state’s highways.

The Assembly also passed two policy bills. They include:

• AB 1039, which streamlines environmental regulations for repairing levees and the seismic retrofitting of bridges; and
  
• AB 1467, which establishes public/private partnerships for goods movement.
  

Also approved was AB 1540, a technical bill that provides a ballot label for the constitutional amendment.

Below are additional details on each bond:

Transportation Bond -- $19.925 billion

Mobility, transit, and congestion relief: $17.250 billion

• $4.5 billion for high priority corridor improvements;
  
• $1 billion for State Highway 99 Enhancement Plan;
  
• $2 billion for trade infrastructure;
  
• $2 billion for STIP augmentation;
  
• $4 billion for rail, bus, transit, and improvements;
  
• $750 million for SHOPP and ITS;
  
• $1 billion for State-Local Partnership Program;
  
• $1 billion for roads – cities.
  
• $1 billion for roads – counties.
  

Safety, security, disaster preparedness: $1.475 billion

• $1 billion for transit safety and disaster response;
• $100 million for Port Security Program;
  
• $125 million for local bridge seismic retrofit;
  
• $250 million for grade separations.
  

Air quality: $1.2 billion

• $1 billion for port air quality;
  
• $200 million for school bus retrofit and replacement.
  

Education Bond -- $10.416 billion

K-12 facilities: $7.329 billion

• $1.9 billion for new construction;
  
• $3.3 billion for rehabilitation and modernization;
  
• $200 million for small high schools (included in new construction and modernization above);
  
• $1 billion for overcrowded schools;
  
• $500 million for charter schools;
  
• $500 million for career technical education facilities;
  
• $100 million for energy-efficient schools; and
  
• $29 million for joint use facilities

Higher Education: $3.087 billion

• $1.58 billion for UC and CSU;
  
• $1.5 billion for community colleges.
  

Housing and Land Use Bond -- $2.85 billion

Affordable housing: $1.5 billion

• $345 million for multi-family housing;
  
• $300 million for Cal Home homeownership program;
  
• $200 million for CHADAP down payment assistance program;
  
• $195 million for supportive housing;
  
• $135 million for farm worker housing;
  
• $125 million for the Building Equity and Growth in Neighborhoods (BEGIN) Program;
  
• $100 million for affordable housing innovation;
  
• $50 million for homeless youth housing; and
  
• $50 million for emergency housing.
  

Infill incentives: $850 million (up to $200 million available for urban parks);

Housing-related parks in urban, suburban, and rural areas: $200 million;

Transit-oriented development: $300 million

Flood Protection -- $4.09 billion

• $3 billion for levee inspection, repair, flood control improvements, and delta levee protection;
  
• $500 million for flood control subventions;
  
• $290 million for flood corridors, bypasses, and flood plain mapping; and
  
• $300 million for storm flood management.
  

# # #

Capitol Office: State Capitol, P.O. Box 942849, Sacramento, CA 94249-0046 -- (916) 319-2046 -- Fax: (916) 319-2146
District Office: 320 West Fourth Street, #1050, Los Angeles, CA 90013 -- (213) 620-4646 -- Fax (213) 620-6319

Assemblymember.Núñez@assembly.ca.gov

[calcowgirl]

My Recap:

BOND MEASURES
SB 1689: Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act of 2006. ($2.850 Billion)
AB 127: Education facilities:  Kindergarten-University Public Education Facilities Bond Act of 2006. ($10.416 Billion)
AB 140: Disaster Preparedness and Flood Prevention Bond Act of 2006. ($4.090 Billion)
SB 1266: Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality, and Port Security Bond Act of 2006. ($19.925 billion)

APPROPRIATION
AB 142: Flood control: levee repair and flood control systems. ($500 Million Appropriation)

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
SCA 7: Transportation Investment Fund. (Strengthens Prop 42--still pretty weak)
AB 1540: Elections: ballot label and title: SCA 7. (prescribed language for ballot for SCA 7)

POLICY BILLS
AB 1467: Provides for four public-private partnerships projects and for up to four high occupancy toll lane projects
AB 1039: Government: environment:  bonds: transportation.

[calcowgirl]

The Bonds, the Votes, and the Hall of Shame

(What happened to that Assembly pay-as-you-go plan?)

For Reference:
- Republicans in Senate: 14 (39 in total--1 vacancy)
- Republicans in Assembly: 32 (80 in total)

HOUSING BONDS - $2.850 Billion

SB 1689: Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act of 2006.

SENATE
(AYES 27. NOES 11.) (PASS)
Republicans Voting For (2): Ackerman, Dutton
Republicans Voting Against (11): Aanestad, Ashburn, Battin, Cox, Denham, Hollingsworth, Maldonado, Margett, McClintock, Poochigian, George Runner
Republicans Not Voting (1): Morrow

ASSEMBLY
(AYES 54. NOES 16.) (PASS)
Republicans Voting For (8): Aghazarian, Bogh, Daucher, Emmerson, Shirley Horton, McCarthy, Plescia, Sharon Runner
Republicans Voting Against (16): Benoit, Blakeslee, Cogdill, DeVore, Houston, Huff, La Malfa, Maze, Mountjoy, Nakanishi, Niello, Richman, Strickland, Villines, Walters, Wyland
Republicans Not Voting (8): Garcia, Harman, Haynes, Keene, La Suer, Leslie, Spitzer, Tran

EDUCATION BONDS - $10.416 Billion

AB 127: Education facilities: Kindergarten-University Public Education Facilities Bond Act of 2006.

SENATE
(AYES 29. NOES 8.) (PASS)
Republicans Voting For (4): Ackerman, Maldonado, Margett, Runner
Republicans Voting Against (8): Aanestad, Ashburn, Battin, Cox, Denham, Hollingsworth, McClintock, Poochigian
Republicans Not Voting (2): Dutton, Morrow

ASSEMBLY
(AYES 58. NOES 12.) (PASS)
Republicans Voting For (12): Aghazarian, Benoit, Daucher, Emmerson, Shirley Horton, Houston, McCarthy, Plescia, Richman, Ruskin, Tran, Wyland
Republicans Voting Against (12): Blakeslee, Bogh, Cogdill, DeVore, Huff, La Malfa, Maze, Mountjoy, Nakanishi, Strickland, Villines, Walters
Republicans Not Voting (8): Garcia, Harman, Haynes, Keene, La Suer, Leslie, Niello, Spitzer

FLOOD PROTECTION BONDS - $4.090 Billion

AB 140: Disaster Preparedness and Flood Prevention Bond Act of 2006.

SENATE:
(AYES 36. NOES 1.) (PASS)
Republicans Voting For (11): Aanestad, Ackerman, Ashburn, Cox, Dutton, Hollingsworth, Maldonado, Margett, McClintock, Poochigian, Runner
Republicans Voting Against (1): Denham
Republicans Not Voting (2): Battin, Morrow

ASSEMBLY:
(AYES 62. NOES 9.) (PASS)
Republicans Voting For (16): Aghazarian, Benoit, Blakeslee, Bogh, Cogdill, Daucher, Emmerson, Horton, Shirley, Houston, Keene, McCarthy, Nakanishi, Niello, Plescia, Richman, Runner, Sharon
Republicans Voting Against (9): DeVore, Huff, La Malfa, Maze, Mountjoy, Strickland, Tran, Villines, Walters
Republicans Not Voting (7): Garcia, Harman, Haynes, La Suer, Leslie, Spitzer, Wyland

TRANSPORTATION BONDS - $19.925 billion

SB 1266: Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality, and Port Security Bond Act of 2006.

SENATE
(AYES 37. NOES 1.) (PASS)
Republicans Voting For (12): Aanestad, Ackerman, Ashburn, Battin, Cox, Denham, Dutton, Hollingsworth, Maldonado, Margett, Poochigian, George Runner
Republicans Voting Against (1): McClintock
Republicans Not Voting (1): Morrow

ASSEMBLY
(AYES 61. NOES 10.) (PASS)
Republicans Voting For (15): Aghazarian, Benoit, Bogh, Daucher, Emmerson, Horton, Shirley, Houston, McCarthy, Nakanishi, Niello, Plescia, Richman, Runner, Sharon, Tran, Wyland
Republicans Voting Against (10): Blakeslee, Cogdill, DeVore, Huff, La Malfa, Maze, Mountjoy, Strickland, Villines, Walters
Republicans Not Voting (7): Garcia, Harman, Haynes, Keene, La Suer, Leslie, Spitzer
.

[hedgetrimmer]

Whats SHOPP?

[calcowgirl]

I assume it means "state highway operation and protection program"

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=gov&group=14001-15000&file=14520-14534

14526.5. (a) The department shall prepare a state highway operation and protection program for the expenditure of transportation funds for major capital improvements that are necessary to preserve and protect the state highway system.

[Czar]

Can you believe this crap?

And The Great Equivocator can hardly wait to sign it.

[calcowgirl]

Can you believe this crap? And The Great Equivocator can hardly wait to sign it.

Not only does he want to sign it, but look at all the idiots that voted for it. It's the same pork-filled package, full of non-capital items and social welfare. They just moved the dollars around and added a few billion here and there.

[calcowgirl]

I meant to ping you to posts #8 through #11.

[Czar]

"It's the same pork-filled package, full of non-capital items and social welfare."

...and therefore deserves a quick death at the hands of the voters.

[calcowgirl]

They have gotten even more dishonest. I was reading the affordable housing bill (SB 1689) and came across this item as the sole description for $135 Million in bonds:

(C) One hundred thirty-five million dollars ($135,000,000) shall be transferred to the fund created by subdivision (b) of Section 50517.5 to be expended for the programs authorized by Chapter 3.2 (commencing with Section 50517.5) of Part 2.

And, if you look at current statute, what is Section 50517.5(b)?

50517.5. (a) (1) The department shall establish the Joe Serna, Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant Program under which, subject to the availability of funds therefor, grants or loans, or both, shall be made to local public entities, nonprofit corporations, and limited partnerships, for the construction or rehabilitation of housing for agricultural employees and their families or for the acquisition of manufactured housing as part of a program to address and remedy the impacts of current and potential displacement of farmworker families from existing labor camps, mobilehome parks, or other housing.

(snip)

(b) (1) The Joe Serna, Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant Fund is hereby created in the State Treasury. ...

This is the same item that was previously buried in the transportation section of the MegaBond (AB 134) Arnold was pushing in March that drew much criticism in the media and by conservatives. Language in that bill did identify it as the "Joe Serna, Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant Fund." The new language is clearly designed to NOT inform the voter.

[Czar]

"The new language is clearly designed to NOT inform the voter."

Shocker...

[calcowgirl]

SB 1689 Text:

(snip)

SEC. 5. Notwithstanding Sections 13115 and 13117 of the Elections Code, the following measures shall be placed on the ballot for the November 7, 2006, statewide general election in the following order:

(a) Senate Constitutional Amendment No. 7 of the 2005-06 regular Session shall be placed first on the ballot and shall be designated as Proposition 1A.

(b) The Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality and Port Security Act of 2006 shall be placed second on the ballot and shall be designated as Proposition 1B.

(c) The Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act of 2006 shall be placed third on the ballot and shall be designated as Proposition 1C.

(d) The Kindergarten-University Public Education Facilities Bond Act of 2006 shall be placed fourth on the ballot and shall be designated as Proposition 1D.

(e) The Disaster Preparedness and Flood Prevention Bond Act of 2006 shall be placed fifth on the ballot and shall be designated as Proposition 1E.