CA: Activity in the state Capitol Feb. 14-18 (2005)

Bakersfield Californian ^ | 2/11/05 | AP - Sacramento

[NormsRevenge]

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposals on public employee pensions, health care for the poor and school funding will get scrutiny from lawmakers this week.

The Republican governor's plan to replace public employee pensions with 401(k) plans will be taken up Tuesday by a Senate budget subcommittee. On Wednesday, the Assembly Public Employees, Retirement and Social Security Committee will consider the same general subject when it looks at the condition of California's public pension systems.

Also on Wednesday, an Assembly budget subcommittee will travel to an elementary school in the Sacramento suburb of Fair Oaks to take testimony on Schwarzenegger's school funding proposals. Opponents say the governor's budget would shortchange schools $2 billion over two years.

A Senate budget subcommittee will hold a hearing Thursday on Schwarzenegger's Medi-Cal proposals, which include requiring recipients with incomes above the poverty level to pay premiums of up to $27 a month for health care.

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

BUSH BUDGET:

The Assembly Budget Committee will look Tuesday at the impact of President Bush's budget on California. The spending plan includes cuts in domestic programs, meaning the state could get less federal aid at a time when it is battling big budget deficits.

INDIANS:

The Senate Local Government Committee will hold a hearing Wednesday on the implementation of a new law that's intended to protect Indians' sacred sites. Starting March 1, the measure will require local governments to consult with Indian tribes in designing their general plans.

VOTING:

The Senate elections committee will look Friday at the increased use of absentee voting and whether the state needs as many polling places on Election Day. The committee will also hear from an Oregon representative about that state's system of voting totally by mail.

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On the Net: www.assembly.ca.gov and www.senate.ca.gov