Karen Bass

The office of Assembly speaker Karen Bass says there's a tentative agreement between Democratic and Republican legislative leaders. A vote on a budget is set for Monday. Details to come.

This picture from the Sacramento Bee is of the chief of staff to Democratic Assemblywoman Nicole Parra packing up her office after Assembly Speaker Karen Bass kicked her out of the Capitol. Parra's crime? Showing a little independence. Parra, a Central Valley moderate Democrat from one of the few competitive legislative districts in the state, refused to vote for the Democratic budget proposal for a simple and good reason: the legislature refuses to pass a badly needed water bond even after it was presented with a bipartisan compromise fashioned by U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

THE GROWING BALLOT: Friend of the blog Robert Greene has this excellent update on the rapidly expanding California ballot. The voters have done their part through signature gathering; now the legislature adds its own measure to the ballot.

HIGH SPEED RAIL: The much delayed bond measure establishing a high-speed rail system in California will finally appear on this November's ballot. But the legislature can't reach a compromise on oversight for the funding.

Los Angeles Times columnist/legend George Skelton has an excellent piece this morning on Karen Bass, the Assembly speaker. Most of the discussion is about Bass' effort to put together a tax reform commission. The good news is that she's pushing it. The bad news is that "the boys" -- the governor and other legislative leaders -- are holding it up until after the budget is finished. And that means a delay until next year at the earliest. Yes, the legislature may pass a budget in August or September, but voters likely will have to sign on to elements of it in November. If voters balk, we could be redoing the budget at Christmastime.

For followers of blockbuster democracy, the most interesting part of the column comes near the end, where Skelton quotes Bass on her plans to sponsor a $300 million ballot initiative in 2010 to fund foster care programs. She's decided on a funding source for the money; a tax on candy. Skelton's only mistake is not getting an answer to the next question: What does she consider candy? Certainly nothing made by See's, with its headquarters here in Los Angeles.

BASS EXPANDS ON TAX REVIEW: The incoming California Assembly Speaker Karen Bass explains her plans for a tax reform commission in an interview with the Associated Press. Aaron McLear, a spokesman for the governor, is quoted as saying that the governor is interested in tax reform but it's "not a substitute for reforming our broken budget system." Yes, and no. Clearly, the state budget process needs procedural changes, and there are strong arguments for establishing a real reserve and an ability to respond more effectively to changes in revenue. But the main failed attempts at spending-side budget reform suggests that budget reform may not be possible without tax reform.

NEW SPEAKER MAKES BALLOT INITIATIVE A PRIORITY: Here's another example of how thoroughly California has become a blockbuster democracy: the state's new Assembly Speaker, the formidable Karen Bass, has announced three priorities for her time as speaker. One is a ballot initiative to set aside funding for foster care. That's right, the speaker of the assembly, with considerable power, must look to the voters for a budget item. And her other two priorities -- balancing the budget and reforming the tax system -- almost certainly would require voters to sign off on constitutional changes at the ballot. 

ARIZONA TRANSPORTATION: A $42 billion transportation tax initiative is expected to be filed in Arizona this week. And The Republic has a preview.

LEAGUE OF CITIES INVESTMENT: The California League of Cities has now put more than $4 million into its no on Prop 98/ Yes on Prop 99 campaign on eminent domain. The campaign's goal, which includes the counter measure Prop 99, is to stop an effort by property rights and taxpayer groups to limit municipalities' ability to take property. Hat tip, Election Track.