Experts Expound

"A timely question for Democrats: What's more important, getting a budget written or going to Denver? Is the timing of the convention the real driver of our state budget negotiations?"

Which would you rather do — hobnob with celebrities, get jacked on Obamamania and whoop through a thought- and angst-free week in Denver, or sit through another grueling week of thumb-twiddling and stupefyingly non-productive floor sessions?

Yes

With apologies to John Denver's "Colorado Rocky Mountain High:" No budget to be seen ‘til it's rainin' fire from the sky, the shadow of term limits is leading to a Capitol goodbye; rocky mountain high…high… Colorado, Democrats will be incommunicado, the lack of budget will not overshadow, the Barack Obama high…high…Colorado." Whew…

It either gets done prior to Denver or after Minnesota.

It has nothing to do with anything. It's a 2 hour flight and there are five nonstops a day to Denver. If the Governor can prance all over the U.S. during the budget crisis, like he has in the last few months, certainly a few Dems can hit the Mile High City.

Getting a budget written. That's their job and what they supposedly get paid for — going to Denver is an extracurricular activity.
How can you even ask that question? Denver has the Broncos, it's near Aspen. The mountains show their craggy faces well during the summer, the taxes are lower, the budget is balanced, employment is not so bad, there aren't any feds looking down one's back, or up it as the case may be, and I hear they're going to throw a hecka big party.

I wish anything was enough to break the logjam. Sadly, it doesn't appear to be.

Denver takes precedence. I am not sure how they will do it, but they will leave without a budget.

"Things To Do In Denver When Your Budget's Dead"

The mere fact that those questions could seriously be asked says all we need to know about our state legislature.

Fight with Republicans over tax increases in Sacramento or go rub elbows with fellow tax-and-spenders in Denver? They'd rather be in Denver.

If they were close to a deal, the convention might be enough to seal a deal. However, with each of the five leaders positioned on a different planet at the moment, it's far safer to assume that NOTHING is driving the state budget negotiations.

The only "driver" thus far for these budget negotiations is ideology. Legislators love national conventions or…they get to hang out with the Major Leaguers. Instead, they are gonna be hanging out in the Triple A level minors.

Well, Fabian Nunez already answered this question when he publicly once again confirmed his priorities. He said he's going to Denver regardless of where things stand on the budget. Fabian always put partying over public policy and French wine over fiscal responsibility.

I think it's the timing of ballot pamphlet preparation for California's statewide election that's driving the budget because a constitutional amendment must be placed on that ballot in order to obtain Republican votes for any tax increase, and the timetable for action on ballot pamphlets and ballots is pretty clear-cut…..

The people from whom we sought opinions: Andrew Acosta, A.G. Block, Mark Bogetich, Barry Brokaw, Morgan Crinklaw, J. Dale Debber, Peter DeMarco, Jim Evans, Kathy Fairbanks, Jeff Fuller, Rex Frazier, Ken Gibson, Evan Goldberg, Deborah Gonzalez, Sandy Harrison, Bob Hertzberg, Jason Kinney, Mike Madrid, Nicole Mahrt, Steve Maviglio, Adam Mendelsohn, Barbara O'Connor, Bill Packer, Kassy Perry, Jack Pitney, Adam Probolsky, Tony Quinn, Matt Rexroad, Matt Ross, Roger Salazar, Dan Schnur, Will Shuck, Ralph Simoni, Sam Sorich, Ray Sotero, Gary South, Kevin Spillane, Rich Zeiger.