All talk, no action. Those four words sum up Monday for both the Assembly and the Senate.
Each house was in session for less than an hour – introducing a few guests, mourning some notable deaths, approving a resolution or two – including one honoring former President Ronald Reagan – and then banging the gavel to leave.
They adjourned not only for the day, but for much of the week.
Legislative policy committee meetings have been called off today and Wednesday so Democrats and Republicans can hold separate policy conferences before reconvening for floor sessions Thursday morning.
None of the policy summits – lawmakers bristle if you call them "retreats" – will be far away. Senate Democrats will meet in Sacramento's Stanford Mansion, Assembly Democrats at UC Davis, Assembly Republicans at Raley Field, and Senate GOP members at Old Sacramento's Firehouse restaurant. All will last two days except that of Senate Republicans, who will finish by tonight.
Lawmakers say the sessions benefit constituents by honing caucus battle plans for the year, touching on issues ranging from the state budget to pensions, job creation, taxes, key legislation and 2012 ballot initiatives.
Costs are projected to be minimal, at most several thousand dollars, because none of the groups is leaving the area or staying in hotels.
COURT WATCH
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will opine at 10 a.m. today on the constitutionality of California's ban on same-sex marriage, approved by voters in 2008's Proposition 8. Either way, the decision is expected to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. See updates on Capitol Alert; sign up for email alerts at sacbee.com/capitolalert.
WORTH REPEATING
"We're going to get this on the ballot and we're going to win."
MOLLY MUNGER, wealthy attorney, dismissing suggestions that she will back off her ballot measure to raise taxes for schools
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