A sterp backward

Last night I report a deal was in aree on, but now its don't seem to have
an deal. This is the follow email I got this moring.


CDCAN DISABILITY RIGHTS REPORT

#166-2010 – SEPTEMBER 28, 2010 - TUESDAY

CALIFORNIA DISABILITY COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK: Advocacy Without Borders: One Community – Accountability With Action - California Disability Community Action Network Disability Rights News goes out to over 55,000 people with disabilities, mental health needs, seniors, traumatic brain & other injuries, veterans with disabilities and mental health needs, their families, workers, community organizations, including those in Asian/Pacific Islander, Latino, African American communities, policy makers and others across California.

To reply to this report write: MARTY OMOTO at martyomoto@rcip.com WEBSITE: www.cdcan.us TWITTER: www.twitter.com - “MartyOmoto”



California Budget Crisis:

Governor and Legislative Leaders Cancel Scheduled Meeting – Staff Will Continue To Work On Details Toward Final Budget Agreement

State Now 90 Days Without A State Budget – Governor & Legislative Leaders Say “Framework” of Budget Agreement Remains In Place



SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 09/28/2010 10:20 PM (Pacific Time)] - California will continue 91 days on Wednesday, with the cancellation of a scheduled Tuesday afternoon meeting of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the four Democratic and Republican legislative leaders – sometimes referred to as the “Big Five”.



Representatives from the Governor and the Democratic and Republican legislative leaders reported that their staffs are continuing discussions and working on details for a final budget agreement to close the over $19 billion budget deficit. The Governor and legislative leaders, who last met on Monday (September 27th) will meet again once their staffs have worked out certain details. No new meeting date of the “Big Five” has been announced.



“Framework” of Budget Deal Reached Last Week on Thursday

Last Thursday, the Governor and legislative leaders reported that they reached agreement on a “framework” for a budget deal that is said to include no new taxes and a suspension of corporate tax breaks that are scheduled to go into effect in 2011 which were passed as part of the 2008-2009 State budget in September 2008. The Governor and legislative leaders said last week that details of a final budget deal needed to be worked out.



One major issue dividing the Governor and Republicans from the Democrats is how to resolve the proposal for public pension reforms. Legislative Democrats want the Governor to complete negotiations with remaining state employee unions who are working without new contracts, while the Governor and legislative Republicans say that reforms in public pensions need to be done as part of the budget agreement.



Some Questions On the Status of the State Budget:



Is There Still Agreement On A Framework For A Budget Agreement?

· According to representatives of the Governor and legislative leaders, yes.

· The Governor’s office said that the framework remains in place, but it must include pension reforms, and also certain tax and budget reforms.

· Alicia Trost, spokeperson for Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (Democrat - Sacramento, 6th State Senate District) said in a statement that "We're still moving toward the goal line.”



Will the Budget Conference Committee Meet Again To Review the Budget Agreement?

Not certain. It is possible that some of the new proposals included in any budget agreement might be the subject of a hearing by the Budget Conference Committee, but nothing has been scheduled, announced or publicly decided on that yet.



When Will A Budget Be Enacted?

When the Governor and four legislative leaders agree to a final deal AND when both the Assembly and State Senate actually vote – and approve, with 2/3rds vote, whatever budget agreement their leaders agreed to. Even if the “Big Five” agree to a final budget deal – the Legislature would still need to return to the State Capitol to vote on it.



When Will the Legislature Return To Sacramento To Vote On A Budget?

· Not certain until final details are worked out on a final deal are completely worked out and agreed to by the Governor and four legislative leaders.

· The Governor, last week, thought a final deal could be agreed to and with a vote by the Legislature as early as sometime this week. That doesn’t appear likely now. The earliest the Legislature is likely to return to vote on any budget agreement – if one emerges this week – is sometime next week.



If the Legislature Approves A Budget and the Governor Signs It When Does It Become Effective? When Do Any Of the Cuts Become Effective?

· The effective date of the 2010-2011 State Budget, which under the State Constitution would normally be July 1st through June 30th, would be immediately after the Governor signs the bill into law (and also any budget related bills that contain necessary changes in State law in order to implement the budget itself – called “trailer bills” because they follow or trail the main budget bill).

· What is not certain is the effective dates of any cuts or policy changes included in any final budget agreement. In some cases it could be retroactive all the way back to July 1st – in other cases it could be retroactive to the beginning of the month, or effective on the date the budget is enacted or some other date.

· The issue is critical to those programs and providers who will be impacted by any cuts that will be in the budget – people who are also impacted now by the budget delay and by reductions made in the previous budget.



Will There Be Any Large New Cuts or New Taxes?

· Though no details have yet been officially released, it is clear that the framework toward a budget agreement by the Governor and legislative leaders will contain no new tax increases.

· It is also clear that the size of spending cuts will be at least at the level of what the Budget Conference Committee – controlled by Democrats – approved in August, though the total amount of spending cuts could end up being slightly higher.

· Democratic leaders indicated that did not agree, as part of the framework, for major additional cuts. But some additional cuts previously rejected – such as lowering to the minimum level allowed by the federal government SSI/SSP (Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Payment) individual grants for low income people with disabilities, the blind and seniors, could end up being part of the budget agreement – though nothing has yet been reported on any specifics.

· In addition, it is not clear yet if certain other policy changes to programs – such as the Governor’s recommendation to the Legislature to prohibit persons with any felony convictions from working as an In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) provider – will end up being part of the final budget agreement.



What Happens After A Budget Is Passed and Enacted?

· Any reductions and policy changes in the final budget agreement will have to be implemented by the departments and local government and local agencies on what will likely be on a “fast track” basis, given the long delay. That implementation will be complicated by the fact that a change in who is Governor is fast approaching.

· In less than five weeks California will elect a new governor on November 2nd, and other statewide constitutional officers, all 80 members of the Assembly and half of the 40 member State Senate. New state legislators take office the first week of December, while the new governor and other statewide elected officials take office on January 3rd.

· Though it is hard to believe the longest budget stalemate in California history could soon end – it is also hard to realize that California is just about 12 weeks away from the deadline that the new governor must submit next year’s State budget – a budget that many fiscal analysts believe will likely contain another projected deficit anywhere from $10 billion to $20 billion. State agencies are preparing initial proposals and estimates for that budget for the new governor.





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MANY, MANY THANKS TO BOB BENSON, the Pacific Homecare Services, Easter Seals, California Association of Adult Day Health Centers, Valley Mountain Regional Center, Toward Maximum Independence, Inc (TMI), Friends of Children with Special Needs, UCP of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, Southside Arts Center, San Francisco Bay Area Autism Society of America, Hope Services in San Jose, FEAT of Sacramento (Families for Early Autism Treatment), RESCoalition, Sacramento Gray Panthers, Easter Seals of Southern California, Tri-Counties Regional Center, Westside Regional Center, Regional Center of the East Bay, UCP of Orange County, Alta California Regional Center, Life Steps, Parents Helping Parents, Work Training, Foothill Autism Alliance, Arc Contra Costa, Pause4Kids, Manteca CAPS, Training Toward Self Reliance, UCP, California NAELA, Californians for Disability Rights, Inc (CDR) including CDR chapters, CHANCE Inc, , Strategies To Empower People (STEP), Harbor Regional Center, Asian American parents groups, Resources for Independent Living and many other Independent Living Centers, several regional centers, People First chapters, IHSS workers, other self advocacy and family support groups, developmental center families, adoption assistance program families and children, and others across California.