The Guard is funded jointly by the state and federal governments - with California’s share next fiscal year expected to be about 40 million dollars.  Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata says before a dime of that money’s approved, he wants some answers:

“I want to know the impact it has on the expectation when the earthquake hits and the bay area is in a mess and the guard has to come in to perform any number of duties – will the guard be there to respond?”

Perata is creating a Senate committee on National Guard Direction and Deployment to answer that question and others about the impact.  He’s ordered hearings to begin immediately. The Governor’s Press Secretary says Schwarzenegger shares Senator Perata’s concerns with the lack of detail in the President’s proposal.