California Legislature returns to face more budget woes, new election rules

Sacramento Bee ^ | 1/3/12 | Jim Sanders

[SmithL]

Happy new year, lawmakers?

Don't bet on it.

The California Legislature will reconvene Wednesday amid a flood of red ink, a long history of partisan bickering, and a coming statewide election using newly drawn districts and a new way of choosing the top two candidates for legislative seats.

Key issues ranging from public employee pension changes to whether the state should regulate health-care insurance rates remain from last year, but political insecurity and fiscal instability are likely to make lawmakers reluctant to cast controversial votes, analysts say.

"I think they'll be more interested in filling up their campaign accounts than filling up the law books," said Jack Pitney, a government professor at Claremont McKenna College.

Political science professor Larry Gerston of San Jose State University agreed, saying, "It's hard to imagine there will be meaningful legislation (passed)."

[Opinionated Blowhard]

Key issues ranging from public employee pension changes to whether the state should regulate health-care insurance rates remain from last year, but political insecurity and fiscal instability are likely to make lawmakers reluctant to cast controversial votes, analysts say.

What a stupid analysis. The reporter is either incredibly ignorant or willfully hiding the real issues. The real issue is that the Dems want to regulate insurance rates and don't want to do anything about pensions but the economic engine that was California has collapsed. The cow has no more milk to give. Its time to cut back but they simply don't want to. So they muddle along. They control everything in California and yet they can't do anything because the situation is that bad. And yet the voters won't elect Republicans because the voters don't want to cut spending on anything. Its a recipe for further decline and collapse, ultimately leading to CA screaming for a federal bailout.

[Parley Baer]

“It’s hard to imagine there will be meaningful legislation (passed).”

I agree. The biggest problem is the dimoKKKRAT controlled legislature. That is a result of the dumb a$$ people who keep voting them in. Sooooooo, nothing is going to change. The state is doomed with the people pulling the wagon leaving in droves.

[NormsRevenge]

The business of the state legislature will not be done until they have chased every business owner from the state and seized their assets.

[TheOldLady]

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