Last week was budget mania in Sacramento and in the chaos that always ensues, Sacramento's Democratic leadership prevailed once again at using a legislative loophole to stack the cards in their favor.
First, a process primer. In California, the Legislature must pass a balanced budget before 11:59 PM on June 15; if not, they are docked pay each day the budget is late. The Budget Act is a laundry list of expenditures. But many of these line items require policy action to legally implement the authorized funds. To do this, the Legislature passes a budget package, which includes the Budget Act and budget trailer bills that make the policy to enact the Budget Act.
Last week was budget mania in Sacramento and in the chaos that always ensues, Sacramento's Democratic leadership prevailed once again at using a legislative loophole to stack the cards in their favor.
First, a process primer. In California, the Legislature must pass a balanced budget before 11:59 PM on June 15; if not, they are docked pay each day the budget is late. The Budget Act is a laundry list of expenditures. But many of these line items require policy action to legally implement the authorized funds. To do this, the Legislature passes a budget package, which includes the Budget Act and budget trailer bills that make the policy to enact the Budget Act.
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