Aug 26, 2008 8:03 pm US/Pacific
Schwarzenegger Signs High-Speed Rail Measure
SACRAMENTO (AP) ―
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High speed rail trains like the one shown here could someday usher riders from LA to the Bay Area.
Reseau Ferre de France (RFF)
Backing off his pledge to sign no bills before lawmakers adopt a state budget, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday approved legislation designed to strengthen wording of the high-speed rail bond measure on the Nov. 4 ballot.
The Republican governor announced Aug. 6 that he would sign no bills sent to him before lawmakers approved an overdue budget. He had hoped the threat that their bills could end up being vetoed would force lawmakers to compromise.
But on Monday night, Schwarzenegger sent legislative leaders a letter urging them to immediately send him four bills so he could sign them in time to put them on the November ballot.
Besides the high-speed rail bill, he asked for passage of a $9.3 billion water bond and bills to implement his plans to increase state lottery revenue and create a special reserve fund as a way to avoid future budget deficits.
The high-speed rail bill, by Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani, D-Tracy, was the only one of the four that was anywhere close to going to the governor's desk. Lawmakers approved it Aug. 13 but had been holding on to it and dozens of other bills because of Schwarzenegger's veto threat.
The Galgiani legislation would modify Proposition 1, which would provide $9.9 billion to help pay for a Los Angeles to San Francisco route—the first leg of the proposed high-speed rail line.
Among other things, the bill would establish a panel of experts on high-speed rail systems in Europe and Asia to evaluate the state's construction plans.
Other key provisions would limit how much of tayments to schools.
Schwarzenegger and Democrats have proposed a combination of cuts
and tax increases to erase a $15.2 billion budget deficit. Republicans have balked at approving any tax hikes but have yet to offer an alternative.
In a response to Schwarzenegger's letter, Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, said it was "time for the governor to stop sending letters and holding press conferences and start getting votes from legislators of his own party so the state can move forward on these critical issues."
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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