California Family Minute
January 5, 2011
Legislature Returns to Sacramento Business
by Rebecca Burgoyne,
CFC Research Analyst
As legislators returned to the Capitol Monday, center stage was the inauguration of Gov. Jerry Brown – a low-key affair at Memorial Auditorium, followed by a hot dog reception hosted by the Orange County Employees Association and Sen. Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana) and other events fitting the seriousness of the economic times. Brown, his focus squarely on the budget, has promised to curb spending in the governor’s office by 25 percent, and he is expected to unveil an austerity budget of mixed cuts and tax increases that will be hard to sell to both Democrat and Republican representatives, and the people of the state.
Brown, secreted with advisors since the election, must release his preliminary budget by January 10, making it the first item for the new legislative session. In his inaugural address, the new governor repeated campaign promises to stop smoke-and-mirrors budgets, to allow the people to vote on tax increases, and to shift decision-making closer to the people.
Look for the budget – and California’s now-projected $28 billion deficit over the next 18 months – to be high on Brown’s agenda. The governor may trade on his “honeymoon” laurels to convince Californians of his proposed course of action. But first, he will have to navigate the Legislature. Any tax proposal will need bi-partisan support to muster the required two-thirds majority. He started preparing the groundwork Monday, calling for “courage and sacrifice” and for legislators “to rise above ideology and partisan interest and find what is required for the good of California.” (For more on Brown’s budget plans, see the Sacramento Bee, January 3, 2011.)
With the state mired in debt, Brown hopes to have a budget through the Legislature in 60 days – far enough in advance to schedule a spring special election for voters to consider his tax increase plans. Brown is expected to ask voters to extend the $9 billion in temporary taxes that will expire July 1 – coupled with a realignment of responsibilities and taxes returning to local governments. At the same time, his proposal is thought to take aim at business tax breaks and to include deep cuts to social services.
While Brown has succeeded in bringing the budget to the attention of more citizens, legislators are still focused on the bread and butter of their politics – legislation. Since their initial return last December, several hundred measures have been introduced. As expected, buoyed by the Democrat majority in both houses coupled with a Democrat in the statehouse, a radical anti-family agenda is quickly shaping up. Most pro-family bills will die young, probably during their first committee hearings this spring.
With seven openly homosexual representatives in the Legislature, Equality California and other pro-homosexual organizations are planning a bold agenda – addressing disparities in the ability of same-sex couples to adopt children, expanded homosexual curriculum in public schools under the guise of preventing bullying, health care for transgender individuals, and reviving several pro-homosexual bills vetoed by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Bill introduction can continue until February 18. After that, legislators will begin debating, hearing, and voting on measures.
To review newly introduced bills now on CFC’s watch list, click here.
Please note: 2011's bills appear at the top of the page, followed by a review of the 2009-2010 session.
Legislature Returns to Sacramento Business
by Rebecca Burgoyne,
CFC Research Analyst
As legislators returned to the Capitol Monday, center stage was the inauguration of Gov. Jerry Brown – a low-key affair at Memorial Auditorium, followed by a hot dog reception hosted by the Orange County Employees Association and Sen. Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana) and other events fitting the seriousness of the economic times. Brown, his focus squarely on the budget, has promised to curb spending in the governor’s office by 25 percent, and he is expected to unveil an austerity budget of mixed cuts and tax increases that will be hard to sell to both Democrat and Republican representatives, and the people of the state.
Brown, secreted with advisors since the election, must release his preliminary budget by January 10, making it the first item for the new legislative session. In his inaugural address, the new governor repeated campaign promises to stop smoke-and-mirrors budgets, to allow the people to vote on tax increases, and to shift decision-making closer to the people.
Look for the budget – and California’s now-projected $28 billion deficit over the next 18 months – to be high on Brown’s agenda. The governor may trade on his “honeymoon” laurels to convince Californians of his proposed course of action. But first, he will have to navigate the Legislature. Any tax proposal will need bi-partisan support to muster the required two-thirds majority. He started preparing the groundwork Monday, calling for “courage and sacrifice” and for legislators “to rise above ideology and partisan interest and find what is required for the good of California.” (For more on Brown’s budget plans, see the Sacramento Bee, January 3, 2011.)
With the state mired in debt, Brown hopes to have a budget through the Legislature in 60 days – far enough in advance to schedule a spring special election for voters to consider his tax increase plans. Brown is expected to ask voters to extend the $9 billion in temporary taxes that will expire July 1 – coupled with a realignment of responsibilities and taxes returning to local governments. At the same time, his proposal is thought to take aim at business tax breaks and to include deep cuts to social services.
While Brown has succeeded in bringing the budget to the attention of more citizens, legislators are still focused on the bread and butter of their politics – legislation. Since their initial return last December, several hundred measures have been introduced. As expected, buoyed by the Democrat majority in both houses coupled with a Democrat in the statehouse, a radical anti-family agenda is quickly shaping up. Most pro-family bills will die young, probably during their first committee hearings this spring.
With seven openly homosexual representatives in the Legislature, Equality California and other pro-homosexual organizations are planning a bold agenda – addressing disparities in the ability of same-sex couples to adopt children, expanded homosexual curriculum in public schools under the guise of preventing bullying, health care for transgender individuals, and reviving several pro-homosexual bills vetoed by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Bill introduction can continue until February 18. After that, legislators will begin debating, hearing, and voting on measures.
To review newly introduced bills now on CFC’s watch list, click here.
Please note: 2011's bills appear at the top of the page, followed by a review of the 2009-2010 session.
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