The clock continues to tick as the Governor works through the over original 900 legislative proposals waiting for his action of a signature or veto!

As of this writing, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has announced the signing of only three measures since the Legislature adjourned the 2009 Session on September 11th. The Governor has five days left until the October 11th deadline.

The three measures that he has taken action on and signed are:

• AB 37 (from the third special session) a budget-related bill that provided for additional deferrals of state payments to address the cash crisis the state is currently in, including millions in payments to UC, CSU and community colleges;
• AB 717 by Assembly Member Paul Cook a law creating an annual “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day” on March 30 - this is the original version of AB 264 which he vetoed on September 8th; and
• AB 1422, a significant measure that allows 700,000 lower income children to retain state-provided health care.

As of a few days ago, it has been rumored that the governor had internally dispensed with another 42 bills. In the meanwhile, still no word on the fate of 700 or so others! This includes AB 1222 (Lowenthal), the one CSU sponsored bill that is currently before the Governor for consideration. The bill would allow the CSU, the University of California and as amended Hastings College of Law to operate affinity programs for graduates and alumni through 2016 by extending the sunset established by SB 569, authored by Senator Tom Torlakson, in 2005. This is the only bill the CSU earnestly wants signed.

In his AB 264 veto message, the Governor said: “I am returning Assembly Bill 264 without my signature. Our state is facing significant challenges, including the need for comprehensive changes in our policies on water, energy, and corrections and the need to take meaningful steps to stimulate the economy and rein in the rising levels of unemployment. This bill does nothing to address any of these issues. I look forward to considering this measure when these other major issues are addressed.”

As the 2009 legislative session approached the end, the tension between the Legislature and the Governor began to rise, not to mention the strain between the two houses – Assembly and Senate regarding prison reform and negotiations over a massive overhaul of California's water system. It is rumored that the Governor is still very disenchanted with the lack of production of the Legislature’s work with regards to corrections, water and other significant policy issues, and that he might do a blanket veto of their legislation forcing them back to finish up what has become an unproductive year in his view. In the meanwhile, the fifth extraordinary session dealing with federal Race to the Top eligibility requirements and other educational reforms has not been convened by either house of the Legislature.

In addition, on September 29th the Governor issued a proclamation calling a special session of the legislature to review and act on the recommendations made by the Commission on the 21st Century Economy.

Meanwhile: tick, tick, tick….