AgdaPkt 2006-03-27 - Laserfiche WebLink

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9A Page 9 INFRASTRucrURE from page 1 ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The governor had called a "Big Five" meeting (governor, Senate President pro Tern Don Perata, Senate Minority Leader Dick Ackerman, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, and Assembly Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy) for the same time as the CIC State Capitol press conference down the hall. Democratic leaders came away from that session expressing frustration with what they saw as the governor's shifting funding priorities, refer- ring specifically to his recent proposal to increase bond funding for levees and flood control from $2.5 billion to $6 billon. Later that day, reacting to the CIC press conference, Sen. Perata issued a letter directed to Chris McKenzie, as president of the CIC board of directors, expressing frustration with what he called "the moving target before us." On March 2, the governor held a quickly- convened press conference, in which he said he was optimistic that he and the Legislature could come to an agreement on a package. Afterwards he held a meeting with Speaker Nunez. Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Weintraub, writing in his blog, had this to report about the meeting: "The speaker said his meeting with the gover- nor was by far the best they have had on the issue th is year. He said he sensed a new urgency on the govemor's part to get a deaf done. He said the governor said he was open to including affordable housing and natural resources in the bond pack- age, and said he would work with the Oems on public transportation funding if they would work with him on roads. And Núf'1ez said the governor explained his decision this week to ask for more flood control money in 8 way that made some sense. n The Legislature's Conference Committee on ~nfrå~tructure Bonds met later that day and heard IfPolts from some of the various policy commit- tIes who had held hearings to review specific bond proposals in their various areas of jurisdic- tion. While it was clear that committee members had made progress defining their priorities for funding, a number of times legislators from both sides of the aisle talked about the importance of taking the time necessary to "do it right" The tone of the discussion among conference committee members and legislators presenting the reports from their policy committees was thoughtful and collegial. Particularly encouraging were the discussions between Republicans and Democrats, both on the committee and among legislators presenting reports. While expressing clear differences of opinion on approaches and priorities, there was talk of coming up with "hybrid systems" on hot button issues such as design-build contracts for infra- structure projects (proposed by the governor, supported by Republicans and opposed by Demo- crats), and the Assembly Republicans' proposal for a "pay-as-you-go" approach to funding infra- structure, instead of bonding. Co-chairman Sen. Kevin Murray summed up the tenor of the discussions when he said, "At least until we have to vote on things seems like everybody is holding hands and singing kumbaya." The Conference Committee plans to hold hearings next week, considering in detail the reports from the various policy committees. To view the committee reports from the As- sembly Transportation and Assembly Water Parks and Wildlife Committees, please visit the individual committee web pages at www.assembly.ca.Çlov. The Senate Education, Environmental Quality, Natural Resources and Water, Public Safety, and Transportation and Housing Committee reports are available at jNWW.senate.ca.Çlov. \li$¡e League's Official Website-www.cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUS. PAGE 9 March 3, 2006 . Issue #9