Schwarzenegger stops by Steinberg’s office

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Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger made a rare trip upstairs in the Capitol on Monday afternoon, meeting with Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) three days before the new fiscal year begins.

“Every day from July 1 on we lose $52.5 million,” Schwarzenegger said of the looming late budget after leaving the meeting. “I’m a big believer in just reps. When it comes to bodybuilding, it’s all about reps, just get together, hour after hour, day after day,” he said.

Still, with the deadline nearly upon them, the governor and top lawmakers have yet to engage in much of the heavy lifting in the upcoming budget negotiations.

“I will be there motivating and inspiring and participating in every way possible,” Schwarzenegger said Monday.

The governor met earlier in the day with the Legislature’s two GOP leaders. Last Monday, he had private sessions with Steinberg, Speaker John A. Perez (D-Los Angeles) and the Republican leaders.

-- Shane Goldmacher in Sacramento