CA: Activity in the state capital for July 26-30

Bakersfield Californian ^ | 7/25/04 | AP - Sacramento

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SACRAMENTO (AP) - The new contract between the Schwarzenegger administration and the prison guards' union and the invasion of the West Nile virus are on legislative agendas this week. So is the state budget - still. The state's new fiscal year reaches its 26th day Monday, but partisan disputes over local government funding, contracting out of school jobs and labor code lawsuits have prevented passage of a new state budget.

The delay is preventing some legislators from attending the Democratic convention this week in Boston.

Here's what else is going on this week at the capital:

BALLOT BATTLE:

The 3rd District Court of Appeals will hear arguments Monday on an attempt by backers of an elections-related ballot measure to knock a rival proposal off the November ballot. Supporters of Proposition 62 contend Proposition 60 violates the state constitution's prohibition against ballot measures that cover more than one subject.

Proposition 60 would reaffirm the right of the state's political parties to have their nominees on the general election ballot. It also would require that money from the sale of surplus state property be used to pay off $15 billion in deficit bonds voters approved in March.

Opponents say the surplus property provision was added to the measure by legislators trying to derail Proposition 62, which would bring a Louisiana-style election system to California.

Under that plan, voters could cross party lines in the primary and the two top vote-getters would face each other in a November runoff. Opponents say that would keep minor parties off the November ballot and result in only two Republicans or two Democrats on the general election ballot in some legislative and congressional districts.

If both remain on the ballot and each receives a majority of votes, the proposal with the most votes would prevail.

PRISON GUARDS:

A special state Senate committee will hold a hearing Monday on the labor contract revisions that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger negotiated with prison guards. A federal judge says the changes give the guards too much control over the state's prisons and is threatening to appoint a receiver to run the system.

WEST NILE VIRUS:

A new Assembly committee will hold a hearing Wednesday on the threat posed by the West Nile virus. The virus, which is spread by mosquitos, causes no symptoms or a mild-to-moderate illness in most people, but it can be fatal in some cases. An Orange County man died of the disease last month, health officials said.

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