Capitol Alert: Simple-majority budget vote to be part of Dems' reform package

UPDATE 12:32 p.m.: Find an updated, post-announcement version of this story here.

Democratic legislative leaders will announce today an effort to place before voters a package of government reforms whose centerpiece would allow budgets to be passed by a simple majority of each legislative house.

Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez and Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg will participate in a Capitol press conference today to discuss legislation to place two initiatives proposed by California Forward on the November ballot, sources said.

The legislation, if it wins some Republican support, could help the foundation-funded advocacy group reach the ballot without having to raise big bucks to gather voter signatures.

But Seth Unger, Assembly Republican Caucus spokesman, said that no bipartisan agreement has been reached.

"We have said pretty consistently that there's no support among legislative Republicans for eliminating the two-thirds vote to pass budgets," Unger said.

Legislation to be discussed today essentially would contain the two ballot initiatives proposed by California Forward, although some modifications have been made, sources said.

The legislation reportedly would not alter the requirement that tax hikes be approved by a two-thirds majority of the Legislature.

California Forward's two ballot initiatives, proposed in October, contained provisions to:

• Prohibit the state from borrowing or raiding city, county, school district or other local or regional government funds, including Proposition 42 transportation funds.

• Allow county supervisors to ask voters for up to a 1-cent increase in sales taxes if necessary to fulfill a countywide action plan.

• Require a specific funding source to be identified for major new or expanded state programs or tax reductions.

• Create a process for nonrecurring spikes in revenue to be used by the state for one-time purposes, such as reducing debt.

• Require the governor and lawmakers to review a two-year spending plan and a five-year fiscal forecast before approving a state budget.

Two Democratic legislators who have spearheaded efforts to overhaul state government, Assemblyman Mike Feuer, of Los Angeles, and Sen. Mark DeSaulnier, of Concord, are also scheduled to attend today's news conference.