Friday, February 6, 2009

FRIDAY BUDGET UPDATE: The state of emergency in the State of Emergency

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend certain normal functions of government, alert citizens to alter their normal behaviors, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale for suspending civil liberties. Such declarations usually come during a time of natural disaster, during periods of civil disorder, or following a declaration of war (in democratic countries, many call this martial law, most with non-critical intent). Justitium is its equivalent in Roman law.

from SacBee Capitol Update

Feb 6 -- The news Thursday was that Senate leader Darrell Steinberg said a vote was upcoming next week. No deal yet, as the negotiations continue behind closed doors.

That secretive process is being pretty well criticized here, here, here, here and here.

Asked if there would be any time for public input before any sort of deal is rammed through the Legislature, Steinberg expounded:

"Certainly, the public has the absolute right to review what we do eventually put forward. And our members certainly do as well. We're going to afford the public, our members that full opportunity," he said. "On the other hand, this is an emergency. We're going to balance those two concerns."

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