Jerry McNerney — Referenced as wanting members to keep remarks to two minutes.
Jerry McNerney — Jerry McNerney was called during roll call; his name was misrendered once as 'McNorney' and then correctly as 'McNerney'.
Jerry McNerney — Jerry McNerney repeatedly refers to Brian as a colleague who may be able to add to the discussion, specifically inviting him to speak to the forecast models and the risk of a market downturn.
Jerry McNerney — The chair adds Senator McNerney to the list of members.
Jerry McNerney — The chair says Senator McNerney will be the last senator to speak.
Jerry McNerney — Senator McNerney begins his closing remarks on budget volatility and the deficit.
Roger Niello — The chair recognizes Vice Chair Roger Niello, noting him as the former vice chair in the Assembly, and then turns the floor over to Senator Niello, who responds by thanking the chair and beginning his remarks on the budget outlook, structural deficit, and revenue concerns.
Roger Niello — Roger Niello delivers extended remarks criticizing the budget process and proposal. He says the state’s usual budget maneuvers are exhausted, urges the Department of Finance to do the difficult work needed to address the structural deficit, and complains that major parts of the budget are being deferred to the May revise, leaving subcommittees to analyze an incomplete proposal. He also warns against using trailer bills for non-budget policy, notes the absence of funding for Proposition 36, and argues that the budget irresponsibly ignores California’s roughly $20 billion unemployment insurance debt to the federal government. He says California is the only state that has not repaid this debt, compares it to a governor that limits economic output, and explains that employers will bear the burden through higher costs that constrain hiring. He closes by looking forward to the presentations and working with John Laird.
Roger Niello — Vice Chair Niello is thanked in the opening of the Legislative Analyst's presentation.
Roger Niello — Speaker says they agreed with 95% of the Vice Chair's opening remarks.
Roger Niello — Named as part of the prior year's budget subcommittee leadership context.
Roger Niello — The speaker says the Vice Chair was present while efforts were being made to address the Valero issue.
Roger Niello — The speaker references the Vice Chair as having mentioned the $21 billion unemployment insurance borrowing earlier.
John Laird — Addressed by Senator Niello in opening remarks and disagreement on the budget outlook.
John Laird — John Laird is referenced in a brief continuous exchange: he is described as Niello’s good friend and committee partner, then directly addressed in a closing remark with a lighthearted comment about car analogies. He is subsequently called present during roll call, and later addressed as Chair, with one mention noting him as the Chair in prior context.
John Laird — Chair Laird is thanked in the opening of the Legislative Analyst's presentation.
John Laird — John Laird participates in a continuous discussion about revenue projections and the state's structural fiscal position, probing how much confidence to place in the estimate, whether a downturn is needed for concern, and how to balance accepting the forecast with deciding when it becomes real enough to warrant action.
John Laird — John Laird is referenced as the Chair in a discussion about how the Governor will engage with the Legislature before the May Revise, including a note that the speaker had already been speaking with the Chair earlier that day.
John Laird — Speaker says they agreed with the Chair's opening remarks.
John Laird — The chair announces the hard stop and the next speakers.
John Laird — John Laird repeatedly addresses the chair during the same exchange, thanking him, asking for a brief answer, and requesting that any unresolved points be deferred until after the hearing while the question is concluded.
John Laird — John Laird is addressed as Chair, then speaks to thank members, notes that the microphone system will remain on after adjournment, apologizes for the limited time, and formally adjourns the Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review.
Catherine Blakespear — Called present during roll call; transcript misrendered her name as 'Laikspier'.
Catherine Blakespear — The Chair says Blakespear is on the list of members to be recognized.
Catherine Blakespear — Included on the chair's speaking list.
Catherine Blakespear — The chair announced Senator Blakespear would be next after Senator Reyes.
Catherine Blakespear — The chair announces that Senator Blakespear is next to speak.
Catherine Blakespear — The speaker references Senator Blakespear's approach to figuring out homeless resources.
Steven Choi — Called during roll call; transcript misrendered his name as 'Choy'.
Steven Choi — Included on the chair's speaking list.
Steven Choi — The chair announced Senator Choi would speak next.
Steven Choi — The chair says Senator Choi will speak next.
Steven Choi — Senator Choi says he was unsure he would get a chance to speak and raises concerns about the $22 billion deficit.
Steven Choi — The speaker addresses Senator Choi while discussing the budget definition and deficit.
Steven Choi — The speaker continues the budget analogy while addressing Senator Choi.
Steven Choi — The Chair thanks Senator Choi before moving to Senator McNerney.
Maria Durazo — Called during roll call; transcript misrendered her name as 'Doraso'.
Maria Durazo — Included on the chair's speaking list.
Maria Durazo — Announced as next on deck; likely intended to refer to Senator Durazo, but preserved as transcribed because the name is uncertain.
Shannon Grove — Shannon Grove was called during roll call.
Shannon Grove — Included on the chair's speaking list.
Shannon Grove — The chair notes that Senator Grove is on deck and next in line to speak.
Shannon Grove — Senator Grove is called next to speak and begins remarks about protecting vulnerable Californians.
Shannon Grove — The speaker referred to a colleague's Benicia refinery and its payroll impact, likely in the context of Senator Grove's comments.
Melissa Hurtado — Melissa Hurtado was called during roll call.
Melissa Hurtado — Named as a chair providing leadership in budget subcommittee work.
Caroline Menjivar — Called during roll call; transcript misrendered her name as 'Manjabar'.
Caroline Menjivar — The Chair says Menjivar is on the list of members to be recognized.
Caroline Menjivar — Caroline Menjivar is called on and begins questioning the committee, explaining that she wants to preview questions now so staff can prepare for sub-3 hearings. She argues that budget discussions should happen before proposals become obsolete, then criticizes the state for creating inequities in health coverage—first between undocumented and documented populations, and now by creating a third tier—calling the approach barbaric and expressing concern about the state's response to H.R. 1.
Caroline Menjivar — The speaker says she is concurring with Senator Menjivar's concerns about the MCO tax.