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There are at least 20 bills pending on the issue, including the proposal to grant college tuition breaks to illegal immigrants, as well as proposals to: study how many forest fires are caused by illegal immigrants; crack down on employers who hire illegal immigrants; and require state prisons to verify the immigration status of new prisoners and deport those who are here illegally.

The Assembly tried Tuesday once again to change a tax law that allows buyers of yachts, private jets and large recreational vehicles to avoid paying use taxes by storing the vehicles out of state for three months.

Other proposals include: an additional 15 investigators to look into people who register vehicles worth at least $40,000, but do not file a personal-income tax return; 27 positions to cross-check IRS records for people who file federal returns but not state returns; and 32 positions to investigate fraudulent claims for dependents and child care credits and other refunds.

The decision was made only two days after voters rejected Proposition 93, which would have extended the time of 34 current lawmakers who are termed out this year, including current Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland, and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles.

The state recently received a $2 million grant from the Gates and Hewlett foundations to help improve its data collection system for tracking the progress of individual students from kindergarten through 12th grade, even when they move among cities and school districts.

\"In essence, they got an interest-free loan from the taxpayers of California,\" [John Chiang] said in an interview. \"Obviously they need to clean up their procedures so they don't jeopardize the operations or their responsibility to provide kids with a world-class education. A week later, the LAUSD admitted \"amended claims might not have been filed, due to an inadvertent oversight by its consultant responsible for filing the amended claims,\" the state report says. \"The auditors are incredibly aggressive,\" he added. \"They look for documentation on things that are inherently incredibly difficult to document.\"

\"If we wish to do something, we need to figure out how to start moving forward in bite-sized pieces -- pieces that have true ends,\" said board member Curt Pringle, the mayor of Anaheim. \"I think this is an appropriate way to focus and move forward.\" \"He's absolutely committed to high-speed rail, believes it's critical for California's infrastructure growth, but also believes it's in the best interest of taxpayers that there be a strong financing plan developed before the additional revenue is put forward.\" \"I believe by adopting the entire corridor as the first phase, we can get there much more quickly,\" [Lynn Schenk] said. \"I can't vote for any plan approval that will leave San Diego in the high-speed rail dustbin of history.\"

[Antonio Villaraigosa], who met with legislative leaders, said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed 2007-08 budget will contribute to fare increases in Southern California transit, and punishes the poor and elderly, who use the system the most. \"We should promote ridership at a time when gas prices are up to $4 a gallon,\" Villaraigosa said at a news conference with Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles. \"We should protect fare-box money in a way that's rational and reasonable over a five-year period. We don't think we should balance the budget on the backs of the riding public.\"

\"Even if it's $48 billion, which is probably too low of an estimate, it's still a huge number,\" [Keith Richman] said. \"It's time to address this problem, and it's time for the special interest groups who continue to put their head in the sand to help resolve this issue.\" \"As the governor has said, we have to find the best way to meet these obligations without harming other government programs and taxpayers -- or handing the problem off to future generations,\" state Finance Director Mike Genest said in a statement. \"That's exactly what the commission he created is in the process of doing.\" \"I think it's absolutely a horrible and ridiculous idea,\" [Dave Low] said. \"I believe the public will see that as a very Draconian and unacceptable statewide ballot measure.\"