The vote on the Assembly floor isn’t until sometime late this afternoon, but let’s end the suspense: the proposal to move California’s 2008 presidential primary to February 5, 2008 is on its way to Governor Schwarzenegger, who will almost certainly sign it into law.

With that out of the way, the only meat left to pick off the bones of this story seems to be the price tag of the whole thing… and what else will appear on that early statewide ballot.

Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez addressed these, and other, issues in a brief morning news conference (the timing of which allowed all of us to begin filing our stories now, instead of tonight).

Nunez praised the early primary as a way to force presidential candidates to talk about issues that matter to California– including environmental protection and immigration. “We think that we should have the right to press candidates early on their views on what constitutes comprehensive immigration reform,” said Nunez.

A few critics have argued that the early contest here will just prompt other states to move up their primaries, too– thereby watering down California’s influence. But the largest criticism of the bill is that it’s silent on the issue of reimbursing counties for the extra expense of a third statewide election in 2008 (since every other primary contest will still be decided in June). Estimates have suggested a total cost (for state and local elections operations) of as much as $90 million.

The Speaker told reporters that, rest assured, the state will pick up the tab. But why wasn’t the bill amended to include specific language?

Not enough time, suggested Nunez. He said the plan needs to be in place now… to force candidates to campaign here. “I think a number of people are going to be impressed,” he said, “the number of times that presidential candidates on both side of the aisle come to visit California.” [You can hear more of that answer here.]

Later, I asked Nunez about the status of any government reform package that might appear on that presidential ballot. This weekend, the governor seemed to add another item to his wish list: campaign fundraising reform. Schwarzenegger suggested a new effort to ban fundraising during budget negotiations, something he has suggested in years past.

That item wouldn’t have to necessarily go to the voters. But it could complicate efforts to amend the existing term limits law, especially if legislative action on campaign finance reform (along with redistricting reform) becomes the price for the governor’s public endorsement of looser term limits.

Nunez said he’s willing to work on the issue. But he also expressed skepticism… saying that fundraising restrictions only strengthen the hand of self-financed, wealthy candidates.

“A millionaire, billionaire, just digs deeper into their pocket,” Nunez said. [You can hear more of that answer here.]