Posted on 06/14/2006 7:21:27 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
That's the assessment today of Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-LA) on the chances of a budget vote tomorrow. Nunez now says, barring a late breaking deal with Republicans, he will not bring the new state budget up on the Assembly floor. That would result in the 20th straight year of no new budget by the state constitutional deadline of June 15.
In a briefing with reporters, Speaker Nunez essentially accused Republicans of trying to find something they don't like in the conference committee's $101 billion dollar spending plan for 2006-07. "No one can say this is not a responsible budget," he said.
Republicans, meantime, say they still think the proposal doesn't use enough of the state's unexpected revenues to pay down debt. But while they maintain that's the key sticking point, they are also balking at Democratic plans to expand health care coverage for children... coverage that would also include children who are in California without legal status.
Nunez said that 88% of the kids covered by the program would be citizens or legally residing foreign nationals, and that GOP lawmakers are trying to use the hot topic of illegal immigration to their advantage.
Of course, a very prominent Republican seems to feel differently about the issue: Arnold Schwarzenegger. On last week's campaign bus tour, the governor said every child should have health care. "Kids are vulnerable bystanders," he told reporters. "They're not really in control if they come here legally."
All that being said, negotiations continue. And as former Senate Pro Tem John Burton used to point out in colorful language to reporters who asked about the June 15 deadline... the real deadline is the end of the fiscal year, June 30.
...but there will be money for universal daycare right?
Yes , and free health care , section 8 housing and free education for the non citizens . Heaven only knows what else.
CA: State budget deadline likely to be missed again ^
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