Governor: Pass bond or raise taxes, Schwarzenegger rejects reductions in social programs

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | Friday, November 21, 2003 | Greg Lucas, Sacramento Bureau Chief

[StoneColdGOP]

Sacramento -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said for the first time Thursday that Republican lawmakers and California voters would have to approve his still- incomplete "fiscal recovery'' plan or face higher taxes because he is unwilling to cut deeply into social programs.

[StoneColdGOP]

Ahem. Seems nobody told this guy that a choice between raising taxes and passing a bond is no choice at all. A bond IS a tax!

This didn't take long, now did it?

[Semper Paratus]

Why are 'Social Programs' like the "Breznev Doctrine"?

Because once passed they can never be repealed.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Yea, you're right. Since Cali's economy is hurting so bad, and people are out of work, Arnie should have just hacked away into the programs aimed at getting people back to work! Damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead!

I wanted tom! I wanted someone to get in there, rule with an iron fist and tell people they have to rearrange their budgets in the first week of Toms being in Office! That would have fixed everything. A bond is nothing more than a temporary fix, and well...maybe Arnold is looking to get the ball rolling. Hmmm...maybe he is looking for ways to jumpstart California without taking away anything that the unemployed Tech workers are recieving to live on. Wow. Maybe Arnold was a good choice after all. But I still like the idea of Tom getting in there and telling everyone they need to live according to his rules.

[My2Cents]

Arnie should have just hacked away into the programs

Any suggestions?

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Not true. Jeb has done a fine job in Florida. But he didn't fix it all in his first week in Office. Some people are still hurting from embarrassment over supporting Tom.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Sure! He dropped his salary. Why doesn't he challenge Tom to do the same? Put up or shut up!

[Reagan Man]

[Schwarzenegger] is unwilling to cut deeply into social programs.

This isn't the leadership of a fiscal conservative. California is in total financial meltdown and deep cuts in social programs shouldn't be out of the question. And borrowing to reduce debt isn't the primary answer to the problems facing the Golden State today.

[My2Cents]

The headline is misleading. It implies Arnold isn't going to make any cuts in social programs. Here's what he actually said (from the article): "That is the choice that is up to them, because I am only going to make cuts to a certain point."

Translation: he will make cuts.

If you use the SF Chronicle as a source of news, realize they have an agenda, and that agenda is to embarrass any and all Republicans.

[Aquinasfan]

Ahem. Seems nobody told this guy that a choice between raising taxes and passing a bond is no choice at all. A bond IS a tax!

You got that right. What happened to option C, cutting spending?

[Sabertooth]

Any suggestions?

Vote no.

Today's bond measure is tomorrow's tax increase.

Both are business as usual.

[The Old Hoosier]

Tom isn't filthy rich.

Arnold should be making the cuts Tom suggested, but he never had the courage for it.

I'd still love to see him prove me wrong, but he's not headed in that direction.

[Reagan Man]

>>>What happened to option C, cutting spending?

Arnold made a serious mistake, when he said he wouldn't cut the education budget. Education makes up some 40% (or more) of the entire California budget.

[The Old Hoosier]

programs aimed at getting people back to work

How "Red" is that blood, anyway? Has your blind support for musclehead convinced you that government can get people jobs?

[k2blader]

That's silly.

(R)nold's salary isn't a program.



And for anyone interested, another thread with different responses here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1026546/posts

[KellyAdmirer]

Arnold has already said he is cutting spending by billions. In fact, the liberals are already giving him heat over that.

I'm sure there are all sorts of folks who would happily impose draconian cuts immediately, but cutting spending massively takes time. Public largesse is like heroin, the patient needs to be weened off it one step at a time.

Arnold is doing fabulously so far.

[beezdotcom]

"I'm not going to cut dog food for blind people,'' he added

Yes, I know what he meant here...but I still find this phrase hilarious, for some reason. The unavoidable first reaction is "Why are we feeding dog food to blind people. Do we REALLY think they can't tell the difference?"

[TheAngryClam]

Watch it, your New Deal is hanging out.

[TheAngryClam]

Don't blame me, I voted for McClintock.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Wow, first week into his Governorship, and we have decided he will never make cuts?

He said he would make them. But hopefully not on your schedule or Toms (or mine, for that matter).

No offense, but it boils down to the shill of "[so-and-so] is a RINO" - according to someone elses personal gauge.

280 million Americans. I can almost guarantee you that you will not find 279,999 that agree with you on exactly every point you have regarding Anrold.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Hey, I thought you were in Las Vegas filming. What happened?