Fuzzy Outline of the Budget Emerges, but Will It Come in Time?

So the budget deal may be shaping up. In order for the budget to pass the California Legislature, the budget must pass both the Assembly and Senate by a two thirds majority. Every year that I can remember the dance is the same but the song is different. The Democrats all agree to a position and the needed one or two Republicans support the bill weeks after the original deadline. This year there are three issues that they are trying to get on the ballot including a solution to the budget crisis. The question is, is there is enough time? According to the Secretary of State they have until Saturday to come up with a measure to put before the voters.

Dan Walters reported that the budget deal is shaping up, but it will require the voters to weigh in on several issues. Those could be spending caps, to limit spending during fiscally healthy years and provide the "governor power to cut spending when revenue is short". (What does this mean? Is this a line-item veto?). I think one good sign is that the Governor is working with individual legislators to get the votes needed instead of the leadership. Below are some excerpts from the article.

It's still a long way from being fully cooked, but the fuzzy outline of a deal on the much-delayed, deficit-ridden state budget is becoming visible as the deadline for placing measures on the November ballot draws near.

Secretary of State Debra Bowen says Saturday is the deadline, but Capitol types believe it could be stretched a week or two. And the deadline, whenever it may be, is an important ingredient in any budget deal, because at least one of the pending elements would have to be placed before voters.

The central element is what Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger calls "budget reform" – some new constitutional provisions aimed at preventing future fiscal problems by creating a "rainy day" reserve and giving governors more authority to cut spending when revenue falls short.

If they fail to get the budget measures on the ballot, a meltdown is predicted. Because the opportunity for the best options will have passed. Lets hope that does not happen.