it comes in pints?

This explains a lot

The workings of the California state legislature have long been a mystery to sentient beings, especially the perennially weird budget process. The mystery may have been solved (registration probably required):

Wine helps budget optimism flow
Leaders agree there's progress after Assembly speaker shares 2 bottles.
By Judy Lin - Bee Capitol Bureau
Published 12:00 am PDT Thursday, July 19, 2007

When Californians look back on what eased this year's budget negotiations, the unsung hero might be a pair of distinguished Napa Valley reds.

Although no deal was struck Wednesday, the 3-week-old state budget impasse appeared to have softened during a 24-hour period in which Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez shared two bottles of fine wine -- a 2002 Joseph Phelps Insignia declared by Wine Spectator as Wine of the Year and a 2003 red wine from Quintessa Estate.

"The wine helped," Senate Republican leader Dick Ackerman said Wednesday after taking an impromptu stroll with Assembly leaders outside the Capitol. "He has good wine."

[...]

Optimism ran so high, it triggered rumors of a possible weekend vote.

Optimism will run even higher when they break out the hard liquor.

Best part of the story is the accompanying picture. I probably shouldn't do this but since the Bee requires registration, I'm reproducing the picture and caption below the fold:

Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñéz, left, and Republican leader Mike Villines take a stroll Wednesday in the midst of budget negotiations, which had been in a three-week impasse. "We're making considerable progress," said Nuñéz, who on Tuesday helped move the talks along by sharing a couple of bottles of Napa Valley wine.

Posted by Ken S at July 19, 2007 06:19 AM | TrackBack (0) |