Democrats in the Legislature approved a deadline-driven, no-tax-extensions budget and shipped it to Gov. Brown, who now has to decide what to do with this hot potato -- and he has 12 days to sign, veto or let it become law without his signature. The spending plan covers a $9.6 billion deficit through delayed payments, borrowings, fees and other maneuvers.
From Shane Goldmacher and Anthony York in the Los Angeles Times: "After warning for months that devastating cutbacks to schools and public safety would occur without the renewed taxes that Brown has sought but has been unable to sell to Republicans, Democratsaverted the most severe reductions."
"But
they did so by returning to old strategies that have papered over California's
deficits for years: delaying the payment of billions in bills, skipping debt
repayments and penciling in money that may not materialize."
"Using their new authority to pass a budget on a majority vote — and under
threat of lost pay if a spending plan was not approved by Wednesday — the
Democrats pushed through provisions to hike car registration fees and local
sales tax rates and force online retailers, such as Amazon.com, to collect sales tax."
"The plan would also cut more deeply into higher education, the courts and local
law enforcement."
The spotlight now shifts to Gov. Brown, who has said for months he wants a no-tricks budget. He didn't get what he wanted. Capitol Weekly's John Howard reports.
"Normally, that question would carry little suspense – he’d sign it and sharpen his veto pen. He’s got 12 days to sign the document, accompanied by any vetoes, or let the budget bill become law without his signature – an option unheard of in the Capitol."
"But this is no normal budget. Brown has said he wants to put his budget plans –
including taxes - before voters for validation."
"Wednesday’s budget doesn’t include extending existing taxes."
"But the governor also said he wants a clear, straightforward budget. The
spending plan sent to his desk to close a $9.6 billion shortfall is sharply in
contrast: It contains borrowings, delayed payments, fees and other gimmicks –
all standard fare for California budgets – that contradict his publicly stated
desire for a transparent and straightforward spending plan."
Tempers flared on the floor of the Assembly during the budget debate, and for a minute it looked like a pair of California lawmakers might follow the Taiwan playbook. Didn't go that far, though. Phew.
From Kevin Yamamura in the Sacramento Bee: "The two-bill proposal compels redevelopment agencies to backfill state coffers and give money to local governments under threat of elimination. Wagner, R-Irvine, testified that it was comparable to a shakedown scheme and referred to the popular HBO show, "The Sopranos."
"That prompted Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, D-La Cañada Flintridge, to demand an apology for the Sopranos reference "as a proud Italian American."
"Wagner retorted that he'd "apologize to any Italian Americans who are not in the Mafia and engaged in insurance scams," setting off a murmur among lawmakers."
"Minutes later, Furutani and Wagner were in each other's faces and had to be broken up by three other lawmakers. The back of the Assembly chamber was soon flooded with legislative aides who came to see the commotion."
While researching a story on medical marijuana, Capitol Weekly's Malcolm Maclachlan came across an item that sadly gave the issue a painful, personal dimension.
"Sometimes Google tells you things you don’t want to hear. While searching for information on medical marijuana for this week’s issue, I came across the website for a cannabis collective in Maine named for someone I was once good friends with, in college way back in 1992 and 1993, but lost touch with her around 1998. Kirsten Friberg was an artist, gallery manager and fashion designer. According to the website for Kirsten’s Compassion, she was living in California when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004. It metastasized and paralyzed her before killing her in 2006, at the age of 32."
"She used medical marijuana for pain and nausea, especially after she dropped down to 98 lbs. - a shocking weight for someone who was 5’9”. But it took her months to get a valid ID, a time when she relied on opiate pain medication that made her hallucinate, according to the group's website."
"While it might be too much to say that Kirsten was the public face of the 2009 citizens’ initiative campaign that strengthened Maine’s medical marijuana protections, Kirsten’s death turned her older brother Eric Friberg, 40, into one of that state’s leading medical marijuana advocates. He and his fiancée, Elizabeth Thorman, told her story to the media numerous times, and run the collective named in her honor."
Meanwhile, marijuana-legalization advocates believe ultimately that society will accept their position, but getting the public to sign off at the ballot or through the Legislature is tough. Capitol Weekly's John Howard reports.
This year was no exception: Earlier this month, legislation aimed at allowing local authorities to decide whether to prosecute growers for misdemeanors or felonies was rejected in the Assembly. It was the latest in a series of setbacks for marijuana advocates, who see legalization and decriminalization as inevitable."
"But marijuana as a political and legal issue is not going away. The crux of the
issue is not the medical efficacy of marijuana – it’s been legal in California
since 1996 with the approval of Proposition 215 - but the larger social
question of whether punishing people for marijuana-related offenses is sound
public policy."
“It is a sustainable issue that probably will continue to be addressed on many levels,” said Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco. “There most likely will be a ballot measure in 2012 and most likely that ballot measure will be successful.”