Posted on 11/09/2005 10:14:46 AM PST by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO Climaxing a record-breaking $300 million special-election upheaval, California voters all but crushed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's “Year of Reform” package Tuesday, except for his adopted measure limiting union dues' political use that was narrowly failing. With 60 percent of precincts reporting, Schwarzenegger's reform centerpiece, the Proposition 76 spending limit, was rejected 60 percent “no” to 40 percent “yes,” plunging next year's political and budget battles into greater uncertainty.
Schwarzenegger downplayed the unfavorable outcome, saying now “we are going to go and find common ground” with special election enemies.
“We need more bipartisan cooperation. I promise I will deliver that,” Schwarzenegger told supporters in Beverly Hills. “Californians are sick and tired of the fighting. Tomorrow we begin anew.
His Proposition 74, toughening teacher tenure requirements, was going down to defeat 52 percent “no” to 48 percent “yes,” and his Proposition 77 political redistricting revamp measure was rejected 56.5 percent “no” to 43.5 percent “yes.
But his Proposition 75, which would ban use of public employee union dues for political contributions without individual employees' prior consent, was losing by the slightest of margins, with 50.1 percent “no” to 49.9 percent “yes.
California's celebrity governor, who was elected in a historic 2003 recall and then won passage of a deficit-easing bond in last year's special election, fought for his four measures as crucial to the state's fiscal and political health.
The Republican governor sidestepped the Democrat-dominated Legislature to push his measures, which labor unions and other Democratic constituencies fiercely battled as a partisan power grab in a Democrat-leaning state.
Barbara Kerr, president of the California Teachers Association, which pumped more than any other union into fighting the governor, said he never should have called the election.
“These were bad ideas,” Kerr said at a Sacramento gathering. “I'm not going to apologize for teachers pulling out of their pockets their money to fight bad ideas.
In the other four races rounding out the most expensive initiative campaign in state history:
- Proposition 73, an initiative that would require parents be notified before an underage girl's abortion, was trailing 49 percent “yes” to 51 percent “no.
- Proposition 78, a measure by the pharmaceutical industry to voluntarily lower prescription drug costs, was rejected 58 percent “no” to 42 percent “yes,” while Proposition 79, consumer groups' stricter resolution to the problem, was rejected 39 percent “no” to 61 percent “yes.
- Proposition 80, which would have given consumers more say over electricity regulation, was rejected by voters 65 percent “no” to 35 percent “yes.
Analysts said the rather high turnout of about 40 percent for a statewide special election the fifth in the history of the state reflected the interest of not only die-hard GOP voters but also Democrats and independents.
The turnout, they said, helped shape an outcome less favorable to Schwarzenegger.
Though analysts consider Tuesday's vote a referendum on the governor's “Year of Reform” effort, they say he remains a potent political force whose next moves will set the tenor of the highly political year to come.
Schwarzenegger will introduce a proposed 2006-07 budget in January that could be peppered with attacks on Democratic constituencies.
In a peace offering similar to that made by Schwarzenegger, Senate leader Don Perata, D-Oakland, said “we must all be prepared to turn the page quickly on this long and divisive special election and immediately start working together on the issues that matter most to California.
“It's time for the governor and the Legislature to get back to the basics of what this state needs better schools, sufficient health care, usable roads and affordable energy,” Perata said.
Expressing similar sentiment, Schwarzenegger told reporters at the close of the campaign that he had “no hurt feelings” and can “move on and work with” Democratic leaders.
But in wide-ranging statements, the governor has warned California about everything from launching more ballot initiatives to dire consequences fiscally if his Proposition 76 spending limit was rejected.
In a bitter battle with labor unions over his measures, Schwarzenegger portrayed himself as the underdog and accused organized labor of using inaccurate scare tactics against him.
Experts said the lingering tensions are likely to spill over into next year's budget battles in deficit-plagued California, which will be played out against the turbulent backdrop of a gubernatorial primary in June and general election in November.
The campaign also invoked Hollywood star power beyond Schwarzenegger's own celebrity.
In the weeks before the election, actor Warren Beatty and director Rob Reiner, both Democrats, boarded campaign buses, joined rallies and made telephone calls to oppose the four measures promoted by Schwarzenegger.
“I think how misguided this election today is,” Reiner told union and Democratic supporters during an Election Day rally in downtown Los Angeles.” Not one child gets educated, not one person gets health insurance, not one thing done to protect our environment. It is a disgrace.
Much of the record spending for an initiative campaign came from opposing forces over Schwarzenegger's “Year of Reform,” but contributing heavily to the staggering sum was the pharmaceutical company's successful push to kill Propositions 78 and 79.
In other elections, the confusing clash would have been a standout with its $80 million price tag.
The consumer-sponsored Proposition 80, which would have begun reversing the state's disastrous experiment with electricity deregulation that triggered the recent energy crisis, might also have attracted much more attention in another election.
Analysts said confusion over its complexities helped defeat it.
Spending by Republicans, Democrats, unions, big businesses, pharmaceutical companies and others could surpass $300 million to support or oppose the ballot's eight initiatives, which range from abortion restrictions to prescription drug costs.
Atop the campaign spending, the special election cost the deficit-ridden state about $50 million to carry out.
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In a peace offering similar to that made by Schwarzenegger, Senate leader Don Perata, D-Oakland, said “we must all be prepared to turn the page quickly on this long and divisive special election and immediately start working together on the issues that matter most to California.
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Oh Good God, Bipartisanship? again? Here we go again. It only cost us about 50 billion so far trying to go down that road.
:-\
just sign the tax increases into place, have a press conference and tell the people he is giving them what they voted for, resign as governor, and go back and make T4.
He was so inspiring last year. Then he folded faster than Superman on laundry day.
Back to the drawing board.
This is so depressing... I was hoping that at least a FEW of Arnold's initiatives would pass. And in SF... banning military recruiters from schools? Geesh... :-(
As Zelig will tell you, it truly is the land of fruits and nuts. The only thing I like about the Bay Area is the wine from Livermore.
Carl Weathers
Carl Weathers.
Welcome to FreeRepublic. I notice that your opinions are of a much higher magnitude than your facts.
I don't know about T4, but the rest is what I would do.
I like to think that they're both equal
And let Cruz be Gub? and appoint Westly or Villaraigosa as Lt Gub.
OOooo, you are mean.. lol
I like it. ;-)
That shouldn't be the proportion you're aiming for.
Trying to get me riled up AmishDude?
Yep, apparently it's worse than I thought. I wouldn't mind so much if these fruits and nuts would stay home on election days...
I don't know when we'll get back out to the Bay Area, but I've got that Livermore wine country on my to-see list. I've noticed you've mentioned it several times before on FR. My stepson's grandparents and some aunts and uncles live in that area... We were there a few years ago, but didn't have time to discover the wine country part of Livermore.
California is lost. Time to put up the "for sale" sign and get out while the gettin's good. This state won't be fit to live in until the ultimate fiscal collapse.
I believe the fatal flaw in this recent reform attempt was in not going after the root problem, which from my perspective is the inherent conflict of interest whereby elected officials determine the salaries and benefits of public employees. Duh! The politicians are basically buying votes by catering to public employee union demands. Greyout Davis was brilliant in paying off the prison guards since prisons are typically in GOP stronghold districts. I guess another tact would be to outsource all public employee work.
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