Senators split over transparency as Senate adopts authors' amendments to budget bills

A motion on the California State Senate floor to adopt authors' amendments for multiple budget bills passed after a divided roll call, and the exchange on the floor underscored partisan disagreement about the transparency of the budget process.

Senator Reno moved to adopt authors' amendments for budget bills to allow the bills to be published and returned to committee. "These amendments will be adopted, published, and the bill is returned to the committee," Reno said on the floor, adding that a full budget committee hearing would be held next week to consider the amended bills.

Senator Nilo urged a no vote and said the timing of the floor action left Republicans without meaningful input on substantial changes that would be developed over that weekend. "We will have absolutely no input on what happens this weekend," Nilo said on the floor, urging colleagues to reject the motion.

Senator Wiener (identified in the record as Senator Weiner) disputed that characterization on the floor, saying the budget process had been transparent with numerous hearings and subcommittee meetings. "We have had many budget hearings since the beginning of the year... The action that we will be moving forward with next week will be fully vetted, will be debated on this floor," Wiener said, asking for an aye vote.

The motion to adopt the authors' amendments carried on a roll call of 29 ayes and 10 noes. Senate leaders said the amended bills will be subject to full committee hearings and further floor debate before final budget adoption.

Context Floor adoption of authors' amendments is a procedural step to get amended bills into print in advance of committee consideration. Opponents on the floor said the timing — amendments across the desk on a weekend — constrained opportunities for substantive input by some members; proponents said the change does not replace scheduled committee scrutiny or turnout for subsequent hearings.

Provenance Topic intro excerpt: "I move, adoption of author's amendments for budget bills across the desk on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, April." (transcript block starting at 1269.425) Topic finish excerpt: "Ayes 29, nos 10. That motion passes." (transcript block starting at 1561.1901)

Speakers [{"name":"Senator Reno","role_title":"State Senator","affiliation_type":"government","first_reference":{"timecode":"1269.425","t…