California, Fog-Bound and Broke

There were more than a few puzzled looks in the state Senate chambers this afternoon when Lt. Gov. John Garamendi called on Chief Justice Ronald George to swear in the body’s officers and instead, Arthur Scotland walked up the aisle.

George had planned to administer the oath of office to newly elected senators, but fog delayed his flight from Los Angeles. Scotland, the presiding justice of the Sacramento-based Third District Court of Appeal, filled in at the last minute without a hitch. Supreme Court Justice Kathryn Werdegar handled duties in the Assembly.

More tales of woe related to fog, and of course, the budget, after the jump.

Just as freshly minted President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D–Sacramento, was launching into his inaugural speech, George appeared at the side of the chambers, apologetically telling bystanders that he had booked an earlier flight in a vain attempt to reach the Capitol in time. (George wasn’t the only fog-troubled official; Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger had to reschedule a morning press conference in Sacramento after his flight from Santa Monica was grounded).

Thick fog in Sacramento is a tradition this time of year. So, increasingly, are budget troubles. Schwarzenegger again today called the Legislature into a special session to deal with an $11 billion hole in the current fiscal year’s budget. His declaration triggers Proposition 58, which requires lawmakers to send him budget-fixing bills within the next 45 days. If they don’t, they can’t adjourn and or act on other bills until they do.

Lawmakers, however, apparently don’t feel threatened. Just this afternoon, Legal Pad has received press releases touting new legislation addressing universal health care, technical education and car assessments, but nothing directly related to the budget deficit.

—  Cheryl Miller