Ask Nancy: Continuous appropriations bill
Question
With the death of Senator Dave Cox, there are now two vacant seats in the state Senate. What is the new number of "yes" votes needed for AB 1699 to pass in the Senate?
- James, Sacramento
With the death of Senator Dave Cox, there are now two vacant seats in the state Senate. What is the new number of "yes" votes needed for AB 1699 to pass in the Senate?
- James, Sacramento
Dear James in Sacramento:
AB 1699, the continuous appropriations bill carried by Assembly Member Ed Hernandez, requires a two-thirds vote in both the Assembly and Senate. In the Senate this means 27 legislators need to vote for the bills.
AB 1699 passed the Assembly last month with the help of four Republican votes. It now sits in the Senate, where it has been amended, at the request of Republicans, to include all state vendors as well as state employees.
Currently there are 38 sitting legislators in the Senate; two vacant seats were created when Sen. Maldonado became Lt. Governor and Sen. Cox passed away. This means we need every Democrat to be present and voting when AB 1699 comes to the Senate floor, as well as at least two Republican votes.
Our goal in the Local 1000 Legislative Department is to get as many Republicans as possible to support this bill.
- Nancy Farias
SEIU Local 1000 Legislative Director