October 7 marked California’s 99th day without a budget in place, the longest budget impasse in state history.
But at 9:30 that morning, SB-870, the 800-page text of the main budget bill, passed the desks of each assembly member.
During debate on the bill, Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield (D-Los Angeles) praised the bill.
“It bridges a $17.9 billion deficit…without raising taxes on families while still keeping education and college funding stable,” he said.
It’s time go get the budget done, he added, reminding Assembly members that Friday would signify 100 days the budget was late.
Speaking next, Assemblywoman Diane Harkey (R-Dana Point) complained that the final elements of the package were not released to lawmakers until shortly before Thursday's Assembly vote.
“I’ve not had anytime to even look at it so I can’t extol its virtue or proclaim anything wrong with it. I simply can't vote under these circumstances,” Harkey said.
Assembly Speaker John A. Perez hailed transparency in this year’s budget deliberations. “This is an unprecedented level of openness and transparency,” he said. “The people of California have every right and expectation to know what decisions their leaders are making…we’ve held up to that commitment.”
Other Republicans disagreed, criticizing the process for stifling adequate public debate on final details.
“This is not an example of open and transparent government,” Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries (R-Lake Elsinore) said. “We can do better and we need to do better. I look at this packet that was on our desk as we walked in this morning that contains the budget bill…and we now have 30 minutes, an hour, to digest all of this to make a multi-billion decision.”
Around 12:15 p.m., the Assembly took its first roll call. Needing 54 votes to pass, SB870 fell 16 votes short.
Despite the failed vote, legislators were optimistic the legislation eventually would pass.
“Let's be clear,” Perez added, “It's not a perfect budget. In the era of the great recession there is no such thing as a perfect budget.”
After the bill failed to win passage, the Assembly recessed to give legislative leaders time to hunt down more votes.
When they reconvened later that afternoon, another vote was taken. This time, the budget squeaked its way through with a vote of 54-1.
7 Republicans, including Nathan Fletcher (R-San Diego) and Martin Garrick (R-Carlsbad), joined the Democrats in an Aye vote. Chuck Devore (R-Irvine) cast the only No vote. The remaining Assembly members, six Democrats and 19 Republicans, chose not to vote.
The bill will now head to the Senate where it needs a 2/3 majority – at least 27 votes – to pass.
