By Kevin Yamamura
It's almost done.
State senators were approving a deal to close the state's $40 billion budget deficit this morning after agreeing to give Sen. Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria, most of the changes he demanded in exchange for providing the crucial 27th vote.
Here's what he got:
* A constitutional amendment establishing an open primary system.
The measure will place on the June 2010 ballot an open primary proposal affecting congressional and state races in 2012 and beyond.
Under the plan, the top two candidates in a primary would face off in a general election. Candidates would not participate in partisan primaries, but they would be able to retain their party labels on the ballot.
* A constitutional amendment banning legislative pay increases during deficit years. This measure is intended for a May 19 special election ballot, along with measures to make changes to the California lottery and establish a "rainy day" fund.
Legislative leaders rejected Maldonado's proposal to eliminate legislative pay altogether when the budget is late, arguing the idea was unconstitutional.
* Elimination of the 12-cent additional gas tax, which was estimated to bring in $2.1 billion through June 2010. The money will be replaced with a 0.25 percent increase in the state income tax, federal stimulus dollars and more than $600 million in line-item vetoes.
* Finally, he succeeded in his personal crusade to eliminate $1 million in funding for state Controller John Chiang to pay for new work stations.
Maldonado said the expenditures were wasteful, but Chiang's office said the money, previously approved by lawmakers, was being spent to consolidate staff in one location and save future costs.
The changes are headed to the Assembly, where members were waiting for the Senate to finish up before sending the package to Schwarzenegger.
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