Saturday, Aug. 09, 2008

High-speed rail bill at deadline: Will governor sign it?

By E.J. SCHULTZ
Sun-Star Capitol Bureau

SACRAMENTO -- Is Gov. Schwarzenegger bluffing? On Monday, lawmakers will likely send him a bill that he supports aimed at improving the $9.9 billion high-speed rail bond on November's ballot.

But to sign it, he will have to break his pledge to veto all bills until lawmakers agree on a state budget, now 39 days late.

His office says he won't budge.

"As the governor said (Wednesday), he will not sign any legislation until a budget is passed," his press secretary, Aaron McLear, said in a statement. "The governor's message was clear: focus on the budget and the budget only."

For most bills, the threat won't matter unless the budget impasse drags on for weeks. That's because the governor has until the end of September to sign bills sent to him on or after Aug. 18.

But the high-speed rail legislation -- which beefs up oversight and makes rail funding more flexible -- must be signed by the end of the day Monday to make the Nov. 4 ballot, according to a deadline given by Secretary of State Debra Bowen.

Such deadlines have been known to fluctuate. Indeed, counties generally don't start printing ballots until a couple of months before an election -- in this case, near the end of August, said Stephen Weir, past president of the California Association of Clerks and Election Officials.

But lawmakers appear to be taking the Aug. 11 date seriously.

The Senate passed the bill Thursday. The Assembly is set to take it up Monday. Assembly Member Cathleen Galgiani, D-Stockton, who wrote the bill, said she is confident it will pass. She's hoping the governor changes his mind.

"Clearly the governor wants everybody to focus on the budget," she said. But "in this case he's reviewed this bill already and I'm hoping that will make a difference."

Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter, whose mother, Fran Florez, sits on the high-speed rail board, also urged Schwarzenegger to give in.

Galgiani's bill, AB 3034, removes Prop. 1 and replaces it with Prop. 1a, which would redefine the initial route as running as far south as Anaheim.

The bill also opens up other segments for first-round funding as long as spending does not have an "adverse impact" on the main route.

The bond is expected to cover less than a third of the rail's total cost. Planners hope to raise additional money from private sources and the federal government.

The bill also includes fiscal controls called for by Schwarzenegger.