SACRAMENTO – After meeting several times this week with the Governor and the other legislative leaders, California Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) today said she is hopeful an agreement to stem the rising tide of red ink in the state budget can be finalized this weekend. Speaker Bass said the state budget crisis will only get worse without quick action. The Speaker, returning today from a brief appearance at the Carter Center in Atlanta, said she has scheduled an Assembly floor session for 12:00 noon on Tuesday. The State Senate has also scheduled a Tuesday floor session. Speaker Bass addressed the Carter Center Symposium on Mental Health Policy regarding California’s efforts to fund mental health programs. She appeared at the request of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter.

Speaker Bass will continue discussions with Assembly members and staff over the weekend in search of potential budget solutions.

Here are links to audio of Speaker Bass:

• Speaker Bass said she’s hoping a floor vote on a new budget agreement can be held Tuesday.
• Speaker Bass says time is running out for the current legislature to vote on a budget plan.
• Speaker Bass talks about the symposium she addressed in Atlanta.
• Speaker Bass says her brief trip to Atlanta did not interrupt her participation in the budget negotiations.