Jul 3, 2009 5:40 pm US/Pacific
Capitol Empty While Lawmakers Break For Holiday
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ―
You would think the Capitol would be a beehive of activity with no budget deal in place. But CBS13 went to find out why that wasn't the case.
California is facing a $26 billion deficit and IOU's are in the mail. But today is a holiday at the Capitol, and no one is session.
"This is not a vacation time, this is a crisis time. So, they should be at work," says Joseph Saunders, a Sacramento resident.
The hallways are empty because leaders allowed lawmakers to go home. Technically, they're on call, and have to return within four hours. But for some taxpayers, that's not good enough.
"I want to see them working. I want to see someone doing something here," says John Krake of Castro Valley.
Senate Republican Leader Dennis Hollingsworth says the 'big five' has to strike a deal before lawmakers have anything to vote on. He says closed door meetings between leaders and the Governor will continue.
"The key thing is there to have to be some leadership decisions made, and so that's what I'm working on," says Hollingsworth.
The other three legislative leaders are also at the capitol today, and the governor is scheduled to back at the capitol late this afternoon.
But, no work yet when the 'big five' will meet over the weekend. Meanwhile, a finance official says we're losing about $200 million each week the budget isn't passed.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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