John Myers is doing the play by play via Twitter here. And you can check out the Assembly and Senate debate via the web at calchannel.com

The legislature is battling it out over the budget deal tonight. (The Senate is in caucus, and the Assembly floor session is in recess). Yep, Valentine's Day. One bit of news, pointed out first by KQED's John Myers. The legislature seems to be anticipating a special election on May 19. And yes, that is too early for ballot initiatives to be qualified. None of the measures currently approved for circulation seem to be circulating actively. Several initiative coordinators I know are on the way to other states where there are petitions circulating.

Friend of the blog John Myers of KQED (the Northern California NPR affiliate) has an excellent blog item reporting about the question of exactly when and how Gov. Schwarzenegger might put in writing the budget reform proposal he is talking so much about. Given the complexities of any budget reform, Californians will need as much time as possible to figure it out if they are to vote on a reform measure this fall.