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CONGRESS from page 3 Ranking Member John Dingell on the importance of including non-discrimination provisions in telecom- munications legislation.) NLC Conference Featured National Leaders, Numerous Sessions The meetings with members of Congress were interspersed with NLC's focused program of work- shops, seminars and dynamic general sessions. The workshops and sessions covered topics rang- ing from local finance, public safety, community development, transportation, telecommunications and many other issues. General session speakers included an inspira- tional kick-off from former Congressman John Kasich, host of Heartland with John Kasich; a review of the federal budget from Sen. Kent Conrad of Nebraska; and a speech on the lack of funding and preparation for homeland security from Sen. Joseph Biden from Delaware. Other general session speakers included First Lady Laura Bush, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, Sen. Ken Salazar from Colorado, Sen. George Voinovich from Ohio, and David GeIYen, editor-ai-large with U.S. News and World Report. City officials came away from the conference understanding that we have our work cut out for us to educate Congress about both CDBG and tele- communications reform. (See also, "House Com- mittee Likely to Move on National Telecom Fran- chise".). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... PROP. 42 from page 2 UA key parl of these infrastructure negotiations surrounded a legislative constitutional amendment to close the Prop. 42 loophole. Unfortunately, state elected officials were unable to approve a bond package and Prop. 42 fix by Wednesday's dead- line. That means our signature gathering drive and initiative are the best and most realistic hope to close the Prop. 42 loophole this year. " Information about the coalition and their efforts is available on the campaign website: www.close42100ohole.com. Visit the League's Official Website--www.cacities.org 9A Page 27 INFRASTRUcruRE from page 1 ...... The end came the evening of March 15 and at a relatively early hour, considering the late hour delib- erations on several previous days, as first the Senate, then the Assembly, and then the Senate again, tried without success to muster the two-thirds vote needed to pass an infrastructure package. Early that evening, the Big Five (the governor, Senate President pro Tem Don Perata, Senate Minority Leader Dick Ackerman, Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez and Assembly Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy) agreed to advance a scaled-down infra- structure bond to the Senate and Assembly for action that evening. The measure reportedly contained only a $4.15 billion levee repair bond for the June 2006 ballot. Both chambers held caucuses. But when the Assembly acted, it planned to take up both the $4.15 levee bond as well as a $10.4 billion education bond for the June 2006 ballot and another $9.087 billion for the November 2008 ballot It took up the education bond first and approved it by more than a two-thirds vote rather quickly, then passed the levee bond. What happened? Along with others, the League is still piecing the story together. At least one expla- nation is that Gov. Schwarzenegger and Speaker Núftez agreed to add the education element to the package after the Big Five meeting. The pro Tern, however, - still unhappy about the lack of Republican support on March 10 for a Senate package that included transportation, housing and "smart growth" programs - was not prepared to go along with the last minute addition to the package. The Senate adjourned after approving an emer- gency $1 billion appropriation - not a bond - for levee repair. The Assembly went on to debate and approve the levee repair bond, but it was all for naught because the Senate had adjourned. League, Bond Supporters Disappointed by Lack of Action The failure to pass an infrastructure package was a huge disappointment to the League and many other organizations and city officÎals that had urged the Legislature and the governor to pass a package in Continued on Page 6 PRIORITY FOCUS - PAGE 5 March 17, 2006 - Issue #11