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interests, and others, need to weigh in with the Governor if we are to be successful. Local government leaders will have to showcase the kinds of worthy programs and intervention strategies that can be provided if local government is to be successful in getting fiscal relief. Second, potential Budget Conferees. The Conferees to the budget will most likely be announced after the two versions of the budget clears the respective houses of origin. It is anticipated, however, that at least four of the potential conferees will be Senate Budget Chair Steve Peace, Senator Jim Brulte, Assembly Budget Chair Denise Ducheny, and Assembly Member George Runner. Beyond those members there is significant speculation as to potential conferees. These conferees will be key to ironing out many of the critical details of the final budget package. Conferees generally can only go so far before big picture deals need to be cut. Third, the Big Five. These will be the folks who ultimately cut the big deals to make the budget fly. These people can deliver the critical votes to get a budget put to bed. They are Senate Pro Tem John Burton, Senate Minority Leader Ross Johnson, Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa, Minority Leader Scott Baugh, and of course, the Governor. Fourth, your Assemblv Members and Senators. Every vote will count and the more voices calling for local fiscal assistance, the better. Feed your members the specific information on service cuts your city has made or infrastructure improvement delays. The best advocates are legislators themselves. Arm your members with the most up-to-date and compelling information regarding our case. TillliNG: The Assembly and Senate are closing out their separate alterations to the budget as the Bulletin goes to print. The target date for Assembly Floor action is Friday, May 28. Budget Conference Committee, where many of the compromises and negotiations take place, may begin as early as Monday, May 31. More likely, the session will start on Tuesday, June I, with the goal of getting the budget to the Governor by June 15--still a plausible game plan. It is during this window, between now and the early part of June, that fiscal relief for local agencies will be made or broken. Now is the time to act. There will be many rounds and many ups and downs between now and when a budget is signed. It is important in this process to thank and encourage our friends and allies. Legislators, like all human beings, like to be thanked and acknowledged for their good deeds. It is with this in mine that cities, especially those from the Legislator's district, should take action to let our friends know their actions did not go unnoticed or unappreciated. Cities should especially thank Senator Steve Peace, Assembly Members George Nakano and George Runner for their extraordinary efforts to procure local relief. These legislators have gone to bat for local government and we should take the time to let them know how much we appreciate their efforts. The League Legislative Action Briefing is shaping up to be a critical time for city officials to be in Sacramento. Those cities officials who have not arranged their schedule to attend should consider doing so. The one day conference is Wednesday, May 26, from 9:00 to noon at the Sacramento Convention Center. Legislative leaders will brief city officials on the latest twists and turns in the budget process. LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES 1. SB 402 (Burton). Compulsory and Binding Arbitration. Police and Fire Employees. Oppose. #19 2 5/21/99 16a-2