Editor's Note
For a printable copy of Priority Focus please visit the League Web site.
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Congress Begins Work on Federal Economic Stimulus Package
House Democratic leaders yesterday began unveiling an $825 billion economic stimulus package featuring $550 billion in spending and $275 billion in tax breaks. There is much in this package of great interest to local officials concerned about the effects of home foreclosures, job losses, reduced sales, property taxes and other factors having a direct impact on local communities. A summary of the release is available online.
[FULL STORY]
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Budget Agreement Still Eludes State Leaders
With California a few short weeks away from running out of cash, there was little visible progress this week on a resolution to the state’s $42 billion, 18-month budget deficit. The “Big Five” met to discuss options, but a budget agreement still seemed to elude the key budget players.
[FULL STORY]
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League Board President a Special Guest at State of the State Speech
League Board President Judy Mitchell, mayor of Rolling Hills Estates, was among the special guests of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger yesterday, invited to view his State of the State speech in the Assembly gallery.
[FULL STORY]
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State Running Out Of Cash – How Did We Get Here?
While the budget stalemate between legislators and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger continues, the deficit continues to grow. Without a fix, state budget experts estimate that the California state budget deficit will reach $42 billion over the next 18 months. The State Controller has warned that cash resources will dry out as early as next month if the Legislature does not act to correct the budget imbalance, forcing the state to issue IOUs to its vendors and to delay refunds for taxpayers.
[FULL STORY]
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Bipartisan Commission to Review California’s Outdated Revenue Laws
On Oct. 30, 2008, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Executive Order S-12-08 to create the bipartisan commission on the 21st Century Economy, tasked with reviewing California's 80 year-old revenue-gathering laws and making recommendations on how to modernize them. The commission consists of 12 members -- six appointed by the Governor, three by the Speaker of the Assembly, and three by the Senate President pro Tem. They will meet on Jan. 22 in San Diego for the first time. The commission will deliver a report with recommendations on or before April 15, following three consecutive meetings scheduled for Feb. 12 in Los Angeles, March 10 in Berkeley, and April 9 in Davis. The meetings are open to the public.
[FULL STORY]
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Legislative Committees Announced
The Senate and Assembly this week announced the formation of legislative committees for the 2009-10 session. The Senate announced both the chairs of the committees and committee members. The Assembly only announced committee chairs and vice chairs.
City officials should review this information carefully to become familiar with the assignments of their legislators. This information will become increasingly important as the legislative session kicks into gear.
[FULL STORY]
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High Speed Rail Scoping Meetings Coming to Bay Area this Month
The California High Speed Rail Authority (Authority) will hold a series of environmental "scoping" meetings designed to give local public officials and residents a chance to comment on individual sections of the state's high-speed train system later this month.
[FULL STORY]
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City Officials to Attend League Events January 19-23 in Sacramento
Hundreds of city officials will be in Sacramento next week for the League of California Cities’ New Mayors and Council Members Academy, a League-sponsored reception for city officials and legislators, and for meetings of the League’s policy committees.
[FULL STORY]
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Attend the 3rd Annual Green CA Summit, March 16 – 18, 2009
Register now to attend the 3rd Annual Green California Summit, to be held March 8 – 10, at the Sacramento Convention Center. You will gain insights that can help you conserve and cut costs. The summit will provide information, training and resources that will increase understanding of current environmental pressures and challenges and will support the efforts of both government and private sectors to respond to these pressures in an efficient and economically sustainable manner.
[FULL STORY]
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Nominate an Outstanding Leader for the 2009 California Civic Leadership Institute
The nomination process is open for the League’s 2009 California Civic Leadership Institute (CCLI). Now in its fifth year, CCLI educates elected city officials who are interested in pursuing future state office about key state issues. We are proud of the great leaders our organization has produced, and pleased to be able to once again offer this prestigious program to interested city officials.
[FULL STORY]
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PPIC Task Force Calls on State's Leaders to Act with Unity, Urgency on Plan for Federal Dollars
Bipartisan Group of Experts Offers Guidance on Response to Historic Crisis
[The following press release is reprinted with the permission from the Public Policy Institute of California, a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to informing and improving public policy in California through independent, objective, nonpartisan research on major economic, social, and political issues.]
SAN FRANCISCO, California, January 6, 2009 — California has an unprecedented opportunity to take bold steps toward economic recovery but only if its elected leaders can unite to present a clear plan for using federal dollars, according to a group of state leaders assembled by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC).
[FULL STORY]
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Find a Bill, Legislators, Leg Committee, or Ask League Leg Staff
Visit (and bookmark!) the League’s Legislative Resources Web page (www.cacities.org/legresources). You’ll find a roster and contact information for the League’s legislative staff; the online Bill Search program, background materials on lobbying your legislators, and more.
[FULL STORY]
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