CA: Governor gets mixed grades

Oakland Tribune ^ | 2/27/06 | Steve Geissinger

[NormsRevenge]

SAN JOSE — Republicans concluded their state convention Sunday with mixed grades for GOP Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger — remaining neutral on his infrastructure push even as he promoted the public works plan on national television.

General assembly delegates tabled support of his $222 billion, 10-year proposal to upgrade everything from roads to levees with $68 billion in voter-approved bonds and other funding mechanisms, over concerns about state debt.

Meanwhile, on "Meet the Press," the governor said that "those people that are criticizing my infrastructure deal and my strategic growth plan are people that are a little bit confused about the difference between spending and investing."

In a victory for the governor, GOP convention delegates soundly rejected conservative Republicans' criticism of him on economic issues, including deficit spending in his budget and support of a minimum wage hike.

Delegates also skipped taking up the conservative California Republican Assembly bid to pull his preprimary endorsement over issues that included his hiring of a Democrat as chief of staff.

But in a setback for Schwarzenegger, delegates approved a CRA-backed

resolution calling on him to appoint more GOP judges. He's appointed nearly as many Democrats to the bench as Republicans.

Beyond party affiliations, he is appointing a large number of criminal defense lawyers, including a San Bernardino public defender who spent eight years specializing in opposing death penalty cases," said Steve Baric, chairman of the California Republican Lawyers Association.

In other actions, delegates approved a number of resolutions in support of the governor, ranging from subjects such as illegal immigration to worker's compensation reform.

Schwarzenegger, trailing in the polls and with an empty war chest, needs to retain Republican backing while garnering support from Democrats and independents. Since a veer right last year, he's seen as now moving toward the center.

Much of GOP conservatives' anti-Schwarzenegger moves at the convention were squelched by Sen. Tom McClintock, a Thousand Oaks Republican who is running for lieutenant governor.

During the recall election, Gov. Schwarzenegger and I differed on many things," McClintock said in an address Saturday. "But we united around basic principles of our party."

"So let the word go forth from this convention that on the basic principles and policies that defined the recall election and that brought about this administration — and upon the general direction set by this governor — there is solid and steadfast commitment throughout the wide base of our party," McClintock said. Bob Mulholland, a spokesman for Democrat Phil Angelides' campaign for governor, reacted that "McClintock's speeches are out of the 1950s and while an Oldsmobile from that era gets a glance, most voters have no interest in buying it."

In contrast with McClintock, Republican Secretary of State Bruce McPherson, in an address late Saturday night, mentioned Schwarzenegger only in the context that McPherson was appointed by the governor. McPherson did mention he was running for re-election.

During his "Meet the Press" appearance, Schwarzenegger told a story about infrastructure plan critics "that are a little bit confused about the difference between spending and investing."

"You know when you go to those people — like I went to one of my critics and I said, 'What are you criticizing?' And he says, 'Well you're spending too much money — $222 billion.'

"And I said, 'Well let me ask you something,' I said, 'how much money do you make a year?' He says, '$150,000 dollars.'

"I say, 'How much did you pay for your house?' He said, 'A million dollars.'

"So I said, 'Did you pay in cash?' And he says, 'No.'

"I said, 'How did you pay for it?' He says, 'I borrowed. I got a loan.'

"I said, 'Ah, you got a loan.'

"I said, 'Because it is wise to pay off your loan over a period of 30 years — rather than paying ... You invested in your future.' And that is exactly what we are doing in California. We are investing in the future. It is not spending. Spending we have reduced."

[sheana]

Californians are NOT confused about Arnold's "investment" plan. Take the $10 bil we are spending on illegals, apply it to infrastructure, and then we can talk about financing the rest.

[FOG724]

"those people that are criticizing my infrastructure deal and my strategic growth plan are people that are a little bit confused about the difference between spending and investing."

Color me confused then.

[Galveston Grl]

He gets mixed grades...not surprising. Maria's socialist wing versus Republicans.