CA: Governor's bill signings could boost Democrats he's targeted

Monterey Herald ^ | 10/04/04 | Beth Fouhy - AP

[NormsRevenge]

SAN FRANCISCO - Republican strategists who have been savoring the potential impact of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's involvement in several close legislative races must be puzzling over a number of his bill signings.

The governor has endorsed and raised money for GOP candidates running for seats in marginal districts that are currently held by Democrats. And while no one believes that Republicans could wrest control of either the Assembly or Senate, even a switch of a few seats in either house could help boost the party's power in Sacramento.

So why then did Schwarzenegger sign several bills authored by Democratic Sen. Mike Machado, whose Stockton-area seat is one of the GOP's most coveted pickups? Why did he give Assemblywoman Nicole Parra, locked in a nasty battle to keep her Bakersfield Assembly seat, a plum legislative victory by signing into law her Megan's Law bill requiring the names of registered sex offenders to be posted on the Internet? And perhaps most surprising, why did he sign gay rights legislation authored by Assemblywoman Christine Kehoe, now running for an open San Diego Senate seat that Republicans would love to grab?

"One of the main messages of the recall election was the rejection of putting politics before the best interests of the state," Schwarzenegger spokeswoman Margita Thompson said. "He looks at bills purely on their policy merits; he's not making California suffer for political gain."

That message is generally shared by many Republican strategists, who believe Schwarzenegger's image as a nonpartisan reformer helps their candidates more than it hurts.

"He is taking actions he believes are in the best interest of California without regard to partisanship," said Karen Hanretty of the California Republican Party, which is pouring millions of dollars into targeted races. "That's why the people elected him and that's what Republicans expect him to do, even when we don't agree with him."

Since about 90 percent of the legislation to hit the governor's desk has a Democratic author, Schwarzenegger had little choice but to sign some of the bills authored by targeted Democrats. Parra's Megan's Law legislation, while initially opposed by Republicans who wanted stronger enforcement against sex offenders, was considered a political "no brainer" for Schwarzenegger by the time it made its way to his desk.

"It would really look petty if he vetoed Megan's Law for political purposes," said Steve Maviglio, a spokesman for Assembly Democrats. Still, Maviglio said, "He signed it late at night. If it had been authored by a Republican, he would have held a parade."

Not all the bills signed by Schwarzenegger and authored by politically vulnerable Democrats were quite so safe. Kehoe's legislation, which provides insurance coverage for registered same-sex domestic partners, has already angered many conservative activists who complain that Schwarzenegger is ignoring the social conservatives who helped elect him.

"I'm not surprised he supported so many of my bills. I agree with the governor and he agrees with me on many issues," Kehoe said, adding that Schwarzenegger "doesn't share the same end of the political spectrum" with her opponent, former Assemblyman and judge Larry Stirling.

But Schwarzenegger has also endorsed Stirling, and Kehoe doesn't discount the potential impact if he decides to get more involved in the race.

"If he came down and actively campaigned, it would be a big concern," Kehoe said. "But he's not been very active in the district at all."

If anything, Democrats believe Schwarzenegger is showing his true political colors through his actions on big-ticket pieces of legislation, like vetoing bills to raise the minimum wage and to help Californians buy cheaper drugs from Canada.

And they also detect a more personal grudge against Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez of Los Angeles, since Schwarzenegger vetoed several Nunez bills that passed with broad bipartisan support, such as requiring hotels to give maids a break during their work day.

Ed Emerson, a spokesman for Senate Democrats, said party strategists are still trying to digest the full political message from Schwarzenegger's first round of bill signings.

"We're finding out what Arnold's mind was behind the noise, makeup, and 'lights-camera-action'," Emerson said. "Clearly, there are still differences between us and the Republican Party and we aren't afraid of picking a fight when he is going in the wrong direction. But right now, he seems willing to listen."

[KantianBurke]

If you back a RINO who has tossed basic GOP principles out the window, don't be surprised when he tosses YOU next.

[hattend]

"It would really look petty if he vetoed Megan's Law for political purposes," said Steve Maviglio, a spokesman for Assembly Democrats.

Translation: "We Dems would have been whining from now until the next gubernatorial election. It has much more impact than a parade."

[nosofar]

And perhaps most surprising, why did he sign gay rights legislation authored by Assemblywoman Christine Kehoe, now running for an open San Diego Senate seat that Republicans would love to grab?

This has got to be the single most disappointing point in his performance as a 'Republican' governor so far. This bill was complete marriage for homosexuals. It was just given a different name. Even the language saw simply giving 'all rights and benefits of marriage' to domestic partnerships (or unions?). Schwarzeneggar rubber-stamped the bill. I don't think he has any party loyalty or loyalty to the people who elected him. He cares only about his own personal political power (ppp?). I've said it before, but he will eventually switch to the Democratic party, especially when he finds Democrats will still vote for the Democratic candidate and he's alienated Republican conservatives.