The legislative session is set to end on August 31st… But there’s been some talk that at least the state Assembly could finish early. That would be done in part to let lawmakers attend the upcoming Democratic National convention. Schwarzenegger says he’s asked lawmakers to stick around.
“I told the legislative leaders that it is extremely important not to leave until we get a budget done. And that everyone has to compromise here in order to get this budget done…”
State Assembly Speaker Karen Bass was to attend the convention—she is a supporter of Democratic Presidential hopeful Barack Obama. But she says she won’t go if the budget isn’t wrapped up. Senate President Pro-Tem Don Perata says they’llcontinue to work until there is a budget—and he has told Senate Democrats they need to stay in town. Governor Schwarzenegger was supposed to attend a fundraiser this week for a Republican Senator from Oregon—but has delayed it due to budget negotiations. Lawmakers are struggling over how to deal with a fifteen billion dollar budget deficit.