California faces a $10 billion budget deficit, turf battles have broken out in the Legislature and lawmakers are on edge while waiting for voters to decide if they can serve longer in their houses, the Sacramento Bee reports.

As 2007 draws to a close with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “Year of Health Care” for universal coverage on life support, political pundits say 2008 will likely present too many distractions to be a productive legislative year.

“Major legislation global warming, water, health care those only get done in the best of legislative times,” said Allan Hoffenblum, publisher of the California Target Book, which handicaps the state’s political races.

Even the eternally optimistic Schwarzenegger has tamped down expectations. What he previously proclaimed would be “The Year of Education” is now going to be “a multiyear effort,” according to education lobbyists who were briefed on the upcoming year by the governor.

Assemblyman Mark Leno, chairman of the Assembly Appropriations Committee, is urging his colleagues to be realistic. The San Francisco Democrat noted his panel last year held up $6.5 billion in spending requests and approved only $500 million.

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