Podcast: That's a Wrap, Budget Fans
On this week's edition of the Capital Notes Podcast, a look at this long and chaotic... and final... week of the 2008 state budget impasse.
The Legislature gives its final seal of approval later today, and we examine the deal... how it scores on the gimmick scale... and what happens next.
Capitol Weekly editor Anthony York and I also chat briefly about what's headed to a ballot near you thanks to this budget... and why it's going to be a little harder for the public to understand next year's budget as the Capitol press corps continues to shrink.
epilogue 3:25pm -- No major news out of the governor's afternoon news conference on the budget deal, but a small preview of what's next, and when: Schwarzenegger said a special election will be called next year for voters to consider the budget reserve fund changes, the lottery bond proposal, and the amendments to the Proposition 49 after-school law.
He said March 3 -- a date already slated for some local elections in the state -- is probably too soon, and suggested more likely is a special election on June 2. Of course, that comes awfully late in the budget writing season... and the $5 billion lottery borrowing proposal could be crucial to next year's spending plan.
