Posted on 02/17/2005 8:39:42 AM PST by NormsRevenge
Abandoning one of his most far-reaching and controversial proposals since taking office, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has decided to withdraw his plan to eliminate 88 regulatory and policy-setting boards and commissions, sources close to the governor said Wednesday.
In a letter the administration plans to deliver to the state's Little Hoover Commission today, Schwarzenegger concedes the proposal needs further review.
Members of the commission, which has held hearings on Schwarzenegger's proposal and plans to release a highly critical assessment at its meeting next Thursday, have already recommended that the government reorganization be scaled back substantially.
Included on Schwarzenegger's hit list were boards that license and regulate doctors and nurses, set rules for accountants, administer seismic safety regulations, promote recycling and oversee building contractors, architects and engineers.
Although Schwarzenegger still plans to proceed with a reorganization of the umbrella agency that runs California's prison and parole system, his about-face on the larger reorganization signals a big win for consumer activists, unions and Democrats.
Those critics and others have called his plan an executive branch "power grab" that would harm consumers without saving the state much money.
"My initial reaction is that this thing was so clearly political and poorly thought out that this is a tactical retreat from a battle that the governor would look like a fool if he pursued," said Richard Holober, executive director of the Consumer Federation of California.
"He's gotten the accounting industry mad at him, the dentists mad at him. He's gotten all kinds of groups mad at him that otherwise wouldn't have a beef with the governor."
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
Ended up appointing a GReen, Terry Tamminen, to the head of the agency instead.
flop... flip.. flop ...
The political patronage game plays on and we all pay but don't get to suit up.
Correction to post 1.
.. Terry Tamminen was appointed as a Cabinet Secretary in the current administration, after having headed Cal-EPA, an agency the Governor said during the Recall campaign should be eliminated.
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Alan C. Lloyd replaces Terry Tamminen, a former Santa Monica-based environmental activist who moved up last month to become the governor's Cabinet secretary.
Lloyd had previously headed the California Air Resources Board since 1999.
LA Times (Skelton)
Schwarzenegger, first and foremost, is a competitor who's focused on winning. And he's quick on his feet to move away from a vulnerable position.The latest example: He apparently intends to abandon his controversial budget-control proposal, one devised by new Finance Director Tom Campbell. Under that plan, if there was a budget hole and the Legislature couldn't fix it, spending would be cut across-the-board. This lacks both controls and flexibility.
The governor is looking at a stronger, more workable plan offered as an initiative by two business leaders: Bill Hauck, president of the Business Roundtable, and Allan Zaremberg, president of the state Chamber of Commerce. They're also longtime students of government.
Under this proposal, spending could increase modestly, but not wildly, even in boom times. Spending could climb only as fast as the three-year average growth of state revenues. If the Legislature couldn't pass a budget on time, the previous spending plan would continue in effect. If a deficit remained unresolved, the governor could cut spending any way he chose.
I like it. If Arnold can get a provision like that through and it really sticks (two big "if"s), many of his other, more ignominious accomplishments will have been almost worth it (I say "almost" because he should have adopted this sort of approach BEFORE adding 15 billion in new debt).
Big surprise there.
>>I like it. If Arnold can get a provision like that through and it really sticks (two big "if"s), many of his other, more ignominious accomplishments will have been almost worth it (I say "almost" because he should have adopted this sort of approach BEFORE adding 15 billion in new debt).
I agree; me too. But time will tell. The only part of it that worries me is if they attach the accumulated $10 Billion debt in this bill (as with the former spending reform bill). The $15 billion can't be undone, but we certainly don't need $10 billion added to it. Oropeza also just introduced a Constitutional Amendent (ACA11) to limit raids on the Transportation fund that looks good on the surface.
The signs have been everywhere. His unwillingness to reduce taxes. His willingness to raise taxes and fees. His unwillingness to cut spending. His willingness to propose large spending increases. His unwillingness to force a showdown in the legislature on budgetary matters through use of the veto.
Had Schwarzenegger simply told the legislature in November 2003 that the next budget was going to be smaller than the last, the legislature would have complied just as they did when Schwarzenegger told them they would not be mainstreaming illegal aliens. At that time the electorate remained bloodthirsty after their recent victory over Davis and the legislature knew it.
He keeps throwing people over the side!!! Maybe he oughta just go to FORD HAS A BETTER IDEA...NOT!!! (Fix Or Repair Daily)
The dude is just flailing about looking of the next sexy, eye candy idea, instead of listening to someone straight arrow like McClintock!!!
Although I respect Tom Campbell a great deal and think he was a good choice for finance director, that doesn't mean he walks on water.
Well... Now that he's been thrown over the side of the sinking ship of state, he'll have to learn to moonwalk on it, I do believe!!! Bwah ha ha ha!!!
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