Sacramento, CA…Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today declared a fiscal emergency and called the legislature into a special session to address California’s budget deficit and presented a package of solutions to help solve it.

“Our state is again facing a budget deficit that will force difficult decisions by California’s elected officials. If there is one thing we have learned over these past few years, it is that the longer we wait to tackle the problem, the larger and more difficult it is to solve,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “That is why I have called a special session today, so the legislature can get a head start on the problem. California taxpayers cannot afford another lengthy delay. I look forward to working with Republicans and Democrats to get this done.”

The package of solutions presented today includes program reductions, alternate funding solutions and fund shifts to tackle the deficit. For specifics on the Governor’s proposal, please go to www.dof.ca.gov.

On November 12, Governor Schwarzenegger announced his intent to call a special session of the legislature as soon as the new members were sworn in. This will be the 8th Special Session on the budget declared by Governor Schwarzenegger in the seven years since he took office. To read the full text of the Fiscal Emergency Proclamation, click here.

The full text of the proclamation calling a special session is below:

A PROCLAMATION

BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

WHEREAS on this date, pursuant to Section 10(f) of Article IV of the Constitution of the State of California, I have proclaimed a fiscal emergency; and

WHEREAS on this date, I am submitting to the Legislature proposed legislation to address that fiscal emergency; and

WHEREAS this extraordinary occasion having arisen and now existing, it requires that the Legislature of the State of California be convened in extraordinary session.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State of California, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me in accordance with Section 10(f) of Article IV of the Constitution of the State of California, do hereby convene the Legislature of the State of California to meet in extraordinary session at Sacramento, California on the 6th day of December 2010, at a time to be determined, to consider and act upon legislation to address the fiscal emergency proclaimed by me this day.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 6th day of December 2010.

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ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER
Governor of California

ATTEST:

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DEBRA BOWEN