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CA: Governor announces special election for Nov. 8
The Orange County Register ^ | Monday, June 13, 2005 | JOHN GITTELSOHN and HANH KIM QUACH The Orange County Register

Posted on 06/13/2005 7:06:18 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach

Some estimates say balloting could cost the state as much as $80 million. Critics call it a power grab by Schwarzenegger.

SACRAMENTO – Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today called a statewide special election for November – a high-risk gamble that he can leverage his popular appeal to pass proposals that the Legislature has failed to address.

The Nov. 8 election would be just the fifth of its kind in California history.

“With the people’s help, there will be reform,” he announced on live television. “Our broken state government will be modernized and revitalized.”

The measures Schwarzenegger backed that have qualified for the ballot would give the governor power to unilaterally cut spending in times of a budget shortfall, impanel a trio of retired judges to redraw legislative districts in mid-decade and require teachers to work longer to earn tenure.

(Excerpt) Read more at ocregister.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Business/Economy; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: arnold; calbondage; calreform; governator; rescuecalifornia; schwarzenegger; specialelection
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To: NormsRevenge
4 months of %$#@*&^% .. LOL

ROFL!!!

Who needs WWF? or is it WFW?

21 posted on 06/13/2005 8:13:55 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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To: NormsRevenge

>>%$#@*&^%

??? Barbara Kerr?


22 posted on 06/13/2005 8:26:19 PM PDT by calcowgirl
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Thanks for posting his speech.

Isn't he just great -- he won't buckle under to the Dems and special interests, whose solution to everything is to raise taxes.


23 posted on 06/13/2005 8:27:14 PM PDT by FairOpinion
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To: RonDog

This is just great!

We should start planning for getting the vote out now -- and making sure that illegal votes don't get cast.


24 posted on 06/13/2005 8:30:15 PM PDT by FairOpinion
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

How often does California have "special elections"? Given the zillions of people in California and how much money it will cost to have them all vote, wouldn't it be easier to put this stuff on the ballot in a REGULAR election? They must have some local elections in 2005 (mayoral, etc.) And all you have to do is wait til November 2006 for midterm elections...


25 posted on 06/13/2005 8:35:27 PM PDT by BillyBoy (Find out the TRUTH about the Chicago Democrat Machine's "Best Friend" in the GOP - www.NOLaHood.com)
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To: BillyBoy

Here is Arnold's answer to your concern:

"I know some people say, "Arnold, why not wait until next year? Why have a special election now?"

But how can we just stand around while our debt grows each year by billions of dollars? If you break your arm, you don't wait until your next physical. You get it fixed now.

That's why I say don't wait until next year or the year after because every year we're adding billions of dollars in new debt.

Even if we reach a bipartisan agreement in the Legislature to bring about reform, constitutionally the people must still vote. There must still be an election.

People ask about the cost of the election. Well, do the math: for a buck and a quarter per citizen, you can fix a broken system and save the state billions of dollars. Now remember this is your money. That is a fantastic bargain!"

(From Post 2)


26 posted on 06/13/2005 8:38:56 PM PDT by FairOpinion
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To: BillyBoy

Don't bother us, when we are trying to handle our chaos....


27 posted on 06/13/2005 8:45:14 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Referendums, Prop 13, and the blessed recall are the things that kept me from fleeing the state screeming after the Davis fiasco. Plus I'd have to change my screen name.


28 posted on 06/13/2005 8:45:43 PM PDT by SoCal_Republican
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To: SoCal_Republican

I am with you -- I rather fight, make changes, than flee and let the socialists fully take over this lovely state.

If anything, more conservatives should move here, so we can have a better balance with the liberals.


29 posted on 06/13/2005 8:47:49 PM PDT by FairOpinion
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

----Some estimates say balloting could cost the state as much as $80 million. Critics call it a power grab by Schwarzenegger.----

*scribbles notes*

Okay, let's see here.... putting an issue before the voters so as to settle via the democratic process.... "Power Grab".

Going to court two weeks later to have a leftist judge overturn the wishes of said voters because he or she doesn't like the result.... "Constitutional Democracy".

Got it! Thanks libs. *shuts notebook*

30 posted on 06/13/2005 8:51:45 PM PDT by Flux Capacitor (Trust me. I know what I'm doing.)
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To: calcowgirl

Does CA have the line-item veto?


31 posted on 06/13/2005 8:51:45 PM PDT by AmishDude (Join the AmishDude fan club: "Bravo" -- EODTIM69; "Very good!" -- pepperdog)
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To: Flux Capacitor

ROFL!

Nice explanation!


32 posted on 06/13/2005 8:53:37 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
ABC News

Schwarzenegger Calls for Special Nov. Vote

Schwarzenegger Calls for Special November Election to Address Governmental Change

By TOM CHORNEAU

The Associated Press

Jun. 13, 2005 - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Monday called a special election for November to try to change the way California spends money, picks its politicians and hires its teachers.

He said the election would continue momentum from the historic 2003 recall that brought him to power, saying he was elected to put "California's financial house in order and reform a government that no longer listened to the people."

"I did not come to Sacramento, and you did not send me here, to repeat the mistakes of the past," he said in a brief broadcast address from his Capitol office.

"I know some people say, 'Arnold, why not wait until next year? Why have a special election now?' But how can we just stand around while our debt grows each year by billions of dollars? If you break your arm, you don't wait until your next physical. You get it fixed now."

Schwarzenegger argues that the issues he is bringing to the voters are critical to breaking the grip that public employee unions hold on the Capitol and fixing budget problems in a state where multibillion-dollar budget deficits are the norm.

The most controversial of Schwarzenegger's three proposals is a spending cap that would impose automatic cuts if revenues fall below projected income. It would do away with a voter-approved 2000 measure that sets a minimum funding requirement for public schools.

He also wants legislative and congressional districts to be drawn by a panel of retired judges, which Schwarzenegger hopes will send more moderates to Sacramento. And he wants to extend from two years to five the amount of time teachers would have to work to get tenure.

The state's Democratic leaders reacted swiftly to the address, saying Schwarzenegger has failed to negotiate with them and instead has spent his time raising millions of dollars for the special election.

"After months of name-calling, finger-pointing and scapegoating, we have come to this point. Tonight, the governor pulled the trigger on a special election no one needs and very few Californians even want," Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez said.

Schwarzenegger has complained that the Democrats who control the Legislature have been unwilling to negotiate.

His supporters are touting a fourth measure that would restrict the use of union dues for political purposes. If approved, it would dry up a huge source of campaign money for Democrats.

"This is a referendum on the future of California," said Rusty Hammer, president of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. "Are we going to fundamentally reform the state? That's the issue."

Critics said there is no urgent need to hold a costly special election this year, saying Schwarzenegger's initiatives could wait for the next regularly scheduled election, in 2006. A recent poll that shows a majority of voters are opposed to a special election, estimated to cost anywhere from $45 million to $80 million.

"'Wasteful' is the only word for a November special election. No initiative is so urgent that it can't wait until next June's normally scheduled election," Democratic Sen. Jackie Speier said.

Schwarzenegger and Democrats could still compromise on key parts of the governor's agenda even if he called for the election. Under that scenario, an election still would go forward Nov. 8, but the two sides would campaign together in support of the compromise initiatives and against those originally placed on the ballot.

Schwarzenegger has had success in taking his initiatives straight to the voters. He persuaded the state last year to approve $15 billion in borrowing to pay down its debt after barnstorming California and blitzing the airwaves with commercials.

On the Net:

Governor's home page: http://www.governor.ca.gov


33 posted on 06/13/2005 8:56:41 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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To: RonDog
I, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of the State of California, pursuant to Article II, Section 8(c) of the California Constitution, and Section 12000 of the Elections Code, do hereby proclaim and order that a statewide special election shall be held on the 8th day of November, 2005, to submit to the voters the following qualified initiative measures:

1067. Termination of Minor's Pregnancy. Waiting Period and Parental Notification. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.

You gotta love it. :)

-Dan

34 posted on 06/13/2005 8:58:29 PM PDT by Flux Capacitor (Trust me. I know what I'm doing.)
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To: BillyBoy

Not all jurisdictions in this state have elections in 2005. Also, regular off-year elections have traditionally low turn-out. $80 million is nothing compared to what the democrats in Sacto would spend if we waited another 17 months to vote on these issues. It's worth the money to do it this fall.


35 posted on 06/13/2005 9:05:05 PM PDT by Bonaparte
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To: BillyBoy; FairOpinion
There is ONE reason Arnold HAS to have a special election, and he HAS to get his spending reform package passed. It buries a bunch of new debt to pay back all the promised education and transportation funds that he has raided, and will continue to raid for another year. This measure includes paying those back over a 15 year period, instead of over the next several years as required by current law. They add up to about $10 Billion. If he doesn't pass it, he will have to face tax increases or finally cut the budget. It's the new credit card he is applying for (since he promised to cut up all the others).

Legislative Analysts Office

(snip)

Proposal

This measure:

(snip)

Proposal
This measure prohibits the suspension of Proposition 42 transfers after 2006-07. The total amount of transfers that were suspended through June 30, 2007 would be paid within 15 years, at an annual rate of no less than one-fifteenth of the cumulative amount owed. The measure also permits the Legislature to authorize the issuance of bonds by the state or local agencies that are secured by the payments of suspended Proposition 42 transfers.

(snip)

36 posted on 06/13/2005 9:06:32 PM PDT by calcowgirl
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To: FairOpinion
"...more conservatives should move here..."

Why? So they can join the other conservatives in the valley and foothills who refuse to vote? If those people had turned out, Gray Davis would never have been elected in the first place.

37 posted on 06/13/2005 9:08:03 PM PDT by Bonaparte
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To: AmishDude
Does CA have the line-item veto?

Yes, they have it. But the governor apparently needs more instruction on how to use it.

38 posted on 06/13/2005 9:08:28 PM PDT by calcowgirl
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach; All
This morning on KFI Los Angeles I heard the unions (teacher, perhaps others) have voted to impose a special fee on their membership for the purpose of defeating Arnold's reforms.

Give 'em Hell, Arnie! I'll do what I can to help stem the tidal wave of destructive policies and politicians in California.

39 posted on 06/13/2005 9:11:03 PM PDT by newzjunkey (Remind Liberal Cowards Why America Freed Iraq: http://massgraves.info/)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Bump to find...


40 posted on 06/13/2005 9:19:24 PM PDT by Brad’s Gramma (Yo! Cowboy! I'm praying for a LoganMiracle! It CAN happen!!!!)
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