Capitol Alert

Details of what's under discussion in the budget talks are slowing trickling out.

To be clear, no deal has been struck and negotiations are continuing (and shifting). But Jim Sanders teased out at least some of the taxes on the table for today's Bee:

• Increasing the state's sales tax by 1 cent on the dollar.
• Increasing gasoline taxes by 12 cents per gallon.
• Raising the state's vehicle license fee from 0.65 percent of a vehicle's value to 1.15 percent, with 1 percent going to the general fund and local law enforcement getting 0.15 percent.
• Increasing the personal income tax across the board, either by assessing a surcharge on tax liability or increasing the tax rate.

The sales, income and VLF components would be in effect for either two years or five years, depending on whether a companion spending cap measure passes.

Sanders reports that if the cap were approved, the tax hikes would last five years. If the cap fails, the taxes would last for only two years. It was not clear Tuesday whether the gas tax hike would be tied to the spending cap measure.

Despite promises for a vote this week, the state Senate announced over the Legislature's speaker system Tuesday that floor sessions for the rest of the week are now "check-in" -- Capitol-speak for not actually meeting.

That could change at the discretion of the leadership. (Get a midday update from Senate leader Darrell Steinberg, who will be the guest at the Sacramento Press Club.)

Where's the action today? The fundraising circuit, of course.

Twelve lawmakers -- exactly one in ten -- are scheduled to fan out across Sacramento today, hat in hand, asking for money from many of the very special interests with skin in the budget game.

"They must be getting ready to vote," said Ted Costa, president of People's Advocate, a political watchdog group, only half-jokingly. More seriously, he said, "It seems to me that they should get this budget thing taken care before they're out there raising money."

Events run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Those collecting checks today: Elaine Alquist, Charles Calderon, Ron Calderon, Wes Chesbro, Connie Conway, Chuck DeVore, Noreen Evans, Tom Harman, Ted Lieu, Bill Monning, Mary Salas, and Jose Solorio.

OTHER EVENTS: Assembly GOP leader Mike Villines is scheduled to speak to the Contra Costa County Republican Party in the evening, where he'll receive the group's "legislator of the year award."

STUDY: A new report from The Pew Center on the States calls California a "budget laggard."

2010 WATCH: Former Rep. Tom Campbell, who is exploring a run for governor, will be at the Commonwealth Club in Lafayette today. The title of his talk: "Budgeting the Bailout for California and the Country."

Attorney General Jerry Brown will attend a Sacramento luncheon hosted by the California Newspaper Publishers Association, where he'll take questions from Jim Newton, editorial page editor of the Los Angeles Times.

Also today, Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner will announce a $15 million settlement with a California health insurance company that rescinded coverage of 2,300 customers. The company will have to offer coverage to those customers, reimburse their out-of-pocket costs and pay a $1 million fine.

BIRTHDAY: Assemblyman Joel Anderson, R-Alpine, turns 49 today.

Photo: That's Sen. Darrell Steinberg entering the governor's office for a meeting Tuesday night with a bottle of wine he told the Associated Press was a "peace offering." Credit: Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press.