July 18, 2007
The Focus of California’s Legislature

The primary objective of any legislative session is to pass a budget on time that does not expose California to significant debt. Most years, unless there is an unanticipated surge in revenues, this does not happen. Instead, budgets are passed late, and through a series of one-time quick fixes, and this postpones the Legislature’s addressing deficit issues until the next year. This creates a “structural deficit” that can often be in the billions of dollars. Each year, the Legislature is also tasked with addressing major issues, such as, workers’ compensation, health care, prison overcrowding, or environmental issues. These issues are generally “owned” by legislative leadership, whose job it is to steer these landmark pieces of legislation through the process and to the Governor for signature. This sometimes happens, as was the case with SB 899.

Whether this happens, however, is all a question of leverage. In some years, there is a common need to address problems, and compromises are reached that do not severely damage one interest group or another. Other years, the public policy process is so one- sided that the losers must resort to the ballot box or to the courts. There is also always the threat that partisan differences will result in gridlock or bills ceremonially sent to the Governor with the knowledge that they will be vetoed. These are part of the checks and balances written into California’s Constitution.

There are thousands of bills introduced each year in the California Legislature. During 2007, the number of workers’ compensation bills is fairly small, and the discussion is focused largely on permanent disability benefits. At this point, it is unlikely that anything will occur. Gridlock? A little. Partisan differences? Somewhat. The more likely answer, however, is that with trying to adopt a budget of well over $100 billion and the many other major initiatives on the Legislature’s plate this year, workers’ compensation issues are not high on the priority list of those who make law in Sacramento. Of course, when the budget is finally signed and legislators return from their summer recess, the priorities can always change.