Posted on 11/18/2004 7:04:22 AM PST by NormsRevenge
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wanted to blow up the boxes of state government. Now, incoming Senate leader Don Perata is giving the upper house a makeover.
Perata, an Oakland Democrat, outlined his plan Wednesday to combine and eliminate several Senate committees, cut the number of members on each panel and reduce the amount of bills introduced next session.
In some cases, the changes reflect core Democratic values, such as taking a "smart growth" approach to housing and transportation needs by combining the two issues into one committee. But Perata also hopes the moves will force inexperienced lawmakers to focus on fewer subject areas and prevent scheduling conflicts that result in committee absences.
"Arnold is not the only guy who has thought about modernizing and making state government more efficient," Perata said. Democratic senators narrowly elected Perata in August as the next Senate president pro tem, replacing John Burton, who will leave office Nov. 30 because of term limits.
Perata said he hopes assigning members to fewer committees will allow them to become experts on only a handful of issues in their shortened careers. Meanwhile, Perata said, the Senate has retained too many committees that were once created largely to give more chairmanships to members. At least three of 24 existing chairmanships likely will be lost.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
* Moving water from the agriculture committee to the natural resources committee.
And by moving water from agriculture to natural resources - headed by Kuehl, a strong environmentalist - Perata wants lawmakers to consider water use by all Californians instead of farmers alone.
Oh this is just lovely. Just when you think things couldn't possibly get worse.
re: the Grand Jury probe ... they don't call the Godfather of Sacramento "Teflon Don" for nothing.
BTTT!!!!!!!
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