Williamson Act suspended, but hope remains

California's Williamson Act has been cut by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, but negotiators say the game isn't over.

Assemblyman Jim Nielsen (R-Gerber), who has lobbied hard for WA funding as the governor proposed suspending it in the past two budget years, says Schwarzenegger is still dangling hope that the program might be restored after lawmakers return from summer recess.

They'll have only a month to work something out before the legislature convenes for the year. There's always the possibility of a veto override, but Nielsen says he'll be trying for a deal of some kind, and hopes to get Schwarzenegger to restore the program in his 2010-11 budget proposal. Stay tuned.