Copyright© 2002 by School Services of California, Inc.

Volume 15                   For Publication Date: December 6, 2002             No. 24

Legislature Returns to Sacramento  

The 2003-04 legislative session began on December 2, 2002 with the return of 120 members of the California State Legislature to Sacramento . The 80 members of the Assembly and 40 members of the Senate include 39 newly elected members.  

The pomp of swearing-in ceremonies didn’t last long as the new Legislature heard from their respective leaders about the enormous budget deficit that will demand their immediate attention. The size of the projected budget shortfall occasionally stifled celebrations, which drew hundreds of family members, friends, fundraisers and campaign workers to the Capitol.

Assembly  

The State Assembly contains 48 Democrats and 32 Republicans. The Republicans increased their numbers by two seats from 30 to 32. While the Democrats still maintain a comfortable majority, the increase in Republican members will make the passage of a State Budget even more difficult because of the two-thirds vote requirement. Democrats will now have to find six Republicans to vote for the budget (rather than the four that were needed for the 2002 Budget Act).  

Note: Ray Haynes (R-Murrieta) was elected to the Assembly after serving 10 years in the Senate. Haynes was a supporter of term-limits. Also, there are 32 first-time legislators elected to the Assembly.  

Senate  

In all, 20 senators were elected or reelected to the Senate, including freshman Republican Jeff Denham, who narrowly defeated Democrat Rusty Areias, a former assemblyman, for a San Joaquin Valley seat. Denham’s election increased the Republican roster in the Senate from 14 to 15, and reduced the Democratic majority from 26 to 25.  

Adopting a budget in the Senate will get a little tougher also—two Republican votes will now be needed, rather than the one that voted for the 2002 Budget Act.  

Legislative Leadership  

Both Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson ( D-culver City ) and Senate President Pro Tem John L. Burton (D-San Francisco) were elected to their respective leadership posts.  

Speaking to the daunting task of resolving the State Budget crisis, Wesson stated, “If we fired every state employee, I mean every Highway Patrol officer, every UC professor, every parks patrol officer—we would still be more than $6 billion short. Burton stated, “I’d like to say we are going to have fun in the next two years. As much as I try, I don’t know how we are going to do that.”  

Special Session  

Governor Davis has called for a special session of the Legislature to convene on December 9, 2002 , to address the State Budget crisis. It does not appear at this time that any significant action by the Legislature will occur during the month of December. Governor Davis will outline his plan for cutting approximately $5 billion or more out of the current year budget on December 9, 2002 . The Legislature will begin the serious task of resolving the budget deficit when they all return to Sacramento on January 6, 2003 .

— Arnold Bray