AgdaPkt 2005-07-11 - Laserfiche WebLink

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f?"I- / ¿;J BUDGET from page l' . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Senate convened today, but recessed until noon on Sunday, July 3. Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez sent Assemblymembers home, but has scheduled them for check-in sessions throughout the weekend. Yesterday Gov. Schwarzenegger convened a meeting of the "Big Five"-Senate Pro Tern DDn Perata, Senate Minority Leader Dick Ackerman, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and Assembly Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. Following their discussions, the Senate called a surprise session, as Democratic senators pushed to try to pass a budget that met the June 30 constitutional dead- line for budget adoption. While the effort was unsuccessful, there appeared to be more open acknowledgement by both sides that each has worked hard to try and meet the deadline. Both the Republicans and Democrats suggested they had made conces- sions on specific budget items since the June 15 failed vote on the budget. Republicans continued to express concerns over what they assert is a $2 billion out-year budget deficit increase in the conference committee budget proposal, over the governor's May revision proposal. Democrats assert that they are really only $400 to $500 million. There appeared to be a sentiment by both sides that the Senate will likely pass the budget before the Assembly, and possibly by next week. Senate President Pro Tern Perata announced that Senate leadership had rescinded a prior agree- ment that there would be a suspension of Senate committee hearings until after the budget is passed, and that the Senate will resume commit- tee hearings the week after next. This could well be a signal that the Senate plans to push for passage quickly of a final budget agreement. Please watch the League website for budget updates. If a deal emerges, we will work to obtain as much information as we can and post the information on the website. TEA 21 from page 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The new extension's deadline is set for July 19, giving House and Senate members less than two weeks to complete a final bill when they return from recess on July 11. 'M1ile conferees are close to reaching an agreement on the overall spending level of $286.5 billion, they are still seeking consensus on an acceptable minimum guarantee threshold and other policy considerations. Conferees have also yet to agree on the following an adequate high- ways-transit split, which was an 80-20 percent split in the Driginal TEA-21 law. Additionally, the Bush administration has not signaled its approval for the compromise-spend- ing total, the administration stated earlier this year that it would not sign a bill that was in excess of $284 billion. We will keep you posted as the conferees take up this issue again later this month LOOKING FOR CALIFORNIA'S BEST TO FILL A POSITION IN YOUR CITY? Western City magazine's job opportunity section is the source for job seekers looking for positions in local government. According to our reader survey, the job opportunity section is the best read section of our magazine! When you place an ad in Western City magazine, it will be posted at no additional charge on our website, which receives over 80,000 hits per month. Call to place your recruitment ad today! We Have What You Need (800) 262-1801 or visit our website at www.westemcity.com PAGE 2/PRIORITV FOCUS Visit the League's Official Website--www.cacities.org