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Posted on 06/24/2004 12:15:06 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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The skeptics are about to get their answer.
Just days before the June 30 end of California's budget year, the actor-turned-Republican-governor looks as if he is going to extract most of what he wants from the Democratic-controlled Legislature and pass his $103 billion spending plan on time.
Using dealmaking skills many lawmakers didn't know he had, Schwarzenegger has reached agreements with a variety of interest groups to help eliminate a $17 billion deficit.
So far, teachers, school officials, state universities and local government leaders have all agreed to accept short-term spending cuts in return for improvements in the future. And on Monday, Schwarzenegger reached a deal with five Indian tribes for a major expansion of casino gambling that would bring the state $1 billion this budget year.
"You've got to believe that the governor is setting himself up very well as the dominant individual in state politics," said Larry Gerston, a political science professor at San Jose State University. "The shadow he is casting right now is so long you can hardly see the Capitol."
While Schwarzenegger has been helped by an improving economy, if he gets a budget passed before the June 30 deadline, he will have accomplished something California has done only twice in the past decade because of bitter partisan gridlock. The man Schwarzenegger ousted in a recall election last fall, Democrat Gray Davis, could not meet the deadline in his last three years in office.
"He is moving the process the only way possible, with much dexterity and determination," said Democratic former Gov. Jerry Brown, now mayor of Oakland.
Schwarzenegger's spending plan does not raise taxes. But it uses billions of dollars in borrowing, accounting gimmicks and one-time savings to get through another year. Most of the big reforms he promised during the election remain on his to-do list.
"This year is all about stopping the hemorrhaging," said Allan Hoffenblum, a GOP consultant in Los Angeles. "He's only been in office a few months. Give him another year."
Since his election in October, Schwarzenegger has claimed several victories that have enhanced his power. Upon taking office, he repealed an unpopular increase in the car tax and forced lawmakers to repeal a law allowing illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses.
In March, he persuaded voters to approve the nation's largest state bond issue - $15 billion in borrowing. He also brokered a deal to reform the state's costly workers' compensation system.
Schwarzenegger moved early to gather support for his budget proposal, even before the final version had been released to lawmakers in May. He outflanked the Democrats by negotiating a series of side agreements with key interest groups.
Some Democrats are worried about the governor's growing clout and may try to hold up the budget if only to remind their constituents that they are still California's majority party.
Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez said lifting a cap on freshman enrollment at state universities is his No. 1 priority. He also wants to rescind a wage cut for home health care workers. And some Democrats want to provide a cost-of-living increase in welfare checks.
All together, the Democratic list would add less than $500 million to the Schwarzenegger spending plan - less than 1 percent of the overall budget.
Gerston said that while many of the governor's solutions simply push problems off into the future, the Democrats appear to be putting up only token resistance.
"Democrats either go ahead and look the other way or they fight it," he said. "Clearly they appear to be going with the flow."
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On the Net:
Governor's Home Page: http://www.governor.ca.gov/state/govsite/gov-homepage.jsp
California Assembly: http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/defaulttext.asp
California Senate: http://www.sen.ca.gov
AP-ES-06-24-04 1352EDT
Is this true?
Shall I post McClintock's proposal to balance the budget again? LOL
13% off the top gets you to the goal line in a year!
But Arnold is actually getting his budget passed, which McC could never accomplish.
"While Schwarzenegger has been helped by an improving economy, if he gets a budget passed before the June 30 deadline, he will have accomplished something California has done only twice in the past decade because of bitter partisan gridlock.
Schwarzenegger moved early to gather support for his budget proposal, even before the final version had been released to lawmakers in May. He outflanked the Democrats by negotiating a series of side agreements with key interest groups. "
Sure...and while you're at it post Bustamante's $9 Billion tax increase proposal.
Please let us know how that plan is coming? Got any votes for it?
So in an economic environment where many workers are getting zero or minuscule pay increases, people who are refusing to work would get a COLA. Yeah, that makes sense.
So why not adopt McC idea & forget about a bond.
Note that AP says this is "his $103 billion dollar pending plan"...
Gray never broke 100 billion.. tho he would have liked to, Im sure.
Where the heck is all this money going and how did we jump from 75-80 billion a year to 103 billion and call it a victory?
To social enclaves that are called schools these days and to pay for benefits for illegals, for starters.
Some victory ..lol ;-)
pending=spending
How much actual CUTTING is in this rumored-to-be-agreed-upon-soon budget? REAL cuts, not "reductions in previously-budget increases" that often are reported AS "cuts."
I have been so out of the Loop on California News... I was surprised to see this.
REALITY, that's why.
Let me say it again:
But Arnold is actually getting his budget passed, which McC could never accomplish.
What Arnold has been accomplishing is a miracle, considering that he is dealing with a Democratic Legislature.
Many people forget that Arnold is not just an actor. He also holds an MBA as do George W. Bush and Colin Powell.
No mention in here about the agreement with the Indian tribes that according to the OC Register might kick in a billion or better.
No, because of unreasonable spending demands by the RAT/Commie-bastards.
Sure there is:
So far, teachers, school officials, state universities and local government leaders have all agreed to accept short-term spending cuts in return for improvements in the future. And on Monday, Schwarzenegger reached a deal with five Indian tribes for a major expansion of casino gambling that would bring the state $1 billion this budget year.
Uh oh...The Arnold-haters are going to start spewing Al Gore levels of vitriol if "spending cuts" get much play in the news media!
problem is that there are no cuts in the budget and the devil is in the details...
just more smoke and mirrors...
bonds and borrowing...
I understand they have increased fees too...
believe me, we would have been a hellofalot better off fiscally if we had elected McClintock...
but I am "holding fire" until I see if AS signs a driver's license bill for the illegals...
LOL
So rude of you to be mentioning inconvenient things like "reality" ;-)
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