Posted on 10/15/2007 9:20:17 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO — Acting on the last batch of bills from what experts called a disappointing regular legislative year, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Sunday signed into law a controversial increase in motorists' fees that is intended to raise millions to develop alternative fuel and clean-air technology.
Consumer advocates condemned the bill for putting the costs on the backs of motorists rather than oil companies.
Schwarzenegger also signed what became known as the "toxic toys" bill, which makes California the first state to prohibit the use of chemical compounds called phthalates in products designed for children under 3 years old.
Making his way through the final 153 bills, the governor vetoed legislation proposed by state Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland) that would have allocated $611 million to work on solving the state's water problems.
Schwarzenegger also vetoed a bill allowing the distribution of condoms to inmates in all state prisons, but said he would allow a pilot program at one lockup to see if it helps reduce the spread of HIV.
He also signed a widely criticized measure allowing the owners of Staples Center in Los Angeles to access millions of state dollars earmarked for affordable housing-related programs in order to improve streets near the sports facility.
The governor's last signatures before Sunday's midnight deadline provided an anticlimactic end to a rather fallow year for the executive and the Legislature, some political observers said.
"It was a not particularly productive year," said Raphael J. Sonenshein, a political scientist at Cal State Fullerton.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Had not Bill Simon run one of the worst campaigns in memory he would have won.
Well, I always thought that maybe it would wake up. But, frankly, reading posts like yours makes me lose a lot of hope. You say that "Arnold is still better than Davis," that you "readily admit [you] had hoped he wouldn’t be this bad," and that "after all of his ballot initiatives got shot down, his choices became either go along with the democratic agenda and get what he could."
Where to start? The record clearly shows that Arnold has been far worse than Davis--record growth in government, mega-borrowing, multi-million acre land grabs, back-room deals, etc. And Davis could have never matched the damage Arnold did by back-stabbing fellow Republican candidates. Arnold had turned left far before his ballot initiatives got shot down but you continue to chant his propaganda. And as to hoping he wouldn't be this bad--Did you bother to read his platform before voting for him (Global warming, etc.)? Or look at his pre-election record of surrounding himself with leftists and special-interests, sponsoring Prop 49, and opposing Prop 54?
Observing "conservatives" who choose to vote for liberals(R), thinking they are going to get anything, is truly discouraging. The suggestion that you will continue being "happy" under their leftist rule and would even pull that lever again is downright frustrating!
Garamendi was hardly a moron.
Do you think the CRP starving McClintock of cash, Arnie's clan taking control of the GOTV effort (trying to sell his big-bang-bonds and block Prop 90 by bringing out liberal voters), and Arnie publicly backstabbing McClintock in the final weeks of the election might have had anything to do with his loss?
Yep.
They call them fee's, applications, assessments, levies...whatever.
Just another name for TAXES....
You misquoted me in so far as I haven’t mentioned his initiatives. Furthermore I don’t support him in any way and actively work against him. I disagree with him every bit as much as you. My guess is you too voted for Arnold as did I. Unless of course you’re are the type that takes your marbles and goes home when you don’t have a horse in the race. It is our duty to vote and I’m guessing you both agree with that and that you didn’t vote for Angelides. I fight as much or more than the average bear, mostly with my check book sad to say. Please do not subscribe these views to me simply because I’m being realistic. A realistic appraisal does not mean you don’t carry on the fight. If my assessment depresses you that’s fine, it does me too, but don’t interpret that to mean I’m part of the problem. I am capable of recognizing the lay of the land and simultaneously putting out the effort. I can understand the strategy that we all should be more positive (cheer leaders if you will) regardless so as to motivate, etc., however I thought this was a place to discuss reality and not worry about weaker souls needing a boost. Yes I thought Arnold would not be as bad as he is and I would challenge you that I don’t think even his worst conservative critics expected this.
Start here: An Analysis of Arnold Schwarzenegger's Environmental Policy. That's just one set of issues; I wrote on a lot more. I knew this man for the talented liar he's proven to be.
My apologies. I attributed a post from someone else to you, incorrectly.
Furthermore I don’t support him in any way and actively work against him. I disagree with him every bit as much as you. My guess is you too voted for Arnold as did I.
No. I never voted for him and never would. I have said from day one that Arnold would be more destructive than any other candidate--and he has been. His liberal agenda was laid out in a platform during the Recall election--some just chose to ignore it and not heed the many warnings laid out in article after article, thread after thread.
Unless of course you’re are the type that takes your marbles and goes home when you don’t have a horse in the race. It is our duty to vote and I’m guessing you both agree with that and that you didn’t vote for Angelides. I fight as much or more than the average bear, mostly with my check book sad to say. Please do not subscribe these views to me simply because I’m being realistic. A realistic appraisal does not mean you don’t carry on the fight.
A realistic appraisal would not suggest that Arnold has been better than Gray Davis, either for the State or the Republican Party.
If my assessment depresses you that’s fine, it does me too, but don’t interpret that to mean I’m part of the problem. I am capable of recognizing the lay of the land and simultaneously putting out the effort. I can understand the strategy that we all should be more positive (cheer leaders if you will) regardless so as to motivate, etc., however I thought this was a place to discuss reality and not worry about weaker souls needing a boost.
You don't think that I am suggesting cheerleading, do you? I much prefer honesty and facts. Cheerleaders are what helped get us into this mess.
Yes, I thought Arnold would not be as bad as he is and I would challenge you that I don’t think even his worst conservative critics expected this.
I'll ping some folks to that challenge. Perhaps you weren't reading the threads during the recall. Many, many freepers predicted the exact scenario we have now. Many articles did the same thing. In fact, most of those freepers that promoted this Trojan Horse have been banned as trolls promoting liberalism.
I certainly will! Thanks!
Hardly the case. Arnold was the choice of the mover and shakers, who refused to support the conservative option, Tom McClintock.
awnold better not run for another elective office,
because he’ll lose!
I am one that did here on FRee-Republic and I financially supported his opponent. There were many flame wars with the crazies that supported him but his start power carried the day...
I misspoke. You could have voted for a variety of folks so I’ll leave you your privacy and withdraw that statement.
In 2006, I voted Constitution Party for governor (Noonan), and straight Republican for the down ticket candidates.
Not mine, especially with regard to gays. I knew that when Arnold was a young buck, Robert Mapplethorpe got some VERY useful photographs, many of which I'd bet are now earning a princely return in a remote safe deposit box under an anonymous account. It would explain much.
Exactly. They saw a unique scenario in which McClintock could very well have been elected governor, so they hastily (remember how unprepared the Austrian fraud was for that first news conference?) stuck Schwarzenegger out there, solely for the name ID.
"Everything has to be provided for the people."
No, he has turned out to be every bit as bad as I expected! That is what *I* am saying, if you would just read my words instead of trying to tell me what *my* worst fears were! Why do you think the FR threads were so volatile? People PASSIONATELY believed that Arnold would be the worst possible outcome and posted such for months!
You ducked the big question of the day however. You either voted for Arnold or Phil. Voting for Phil is a hard thing to imagine, much easier to talk about than actually doing. If you stayed home I’d be disappointed. You nailed me for voting for Arnold which means you voted for Phil or worse, stayed home. As I said earlier it’s a difficult situation here in CA and I consider it our duty to vote.
I voted. I voted AGAINST all of the outrageous bond measures promoted by the Governor, FOR Proposition 90 (and a couple others), FOR good conservatives like McClintock and Poochigian, and I left the Governor box empty--there simply was not an acceptable candidate to vote FOR.
You are embarrassing yourself with your ignorance. There was no primary; there was a replacement open election in the event the recall succeeded (it did). The top candidates were Bustamonte (D), Arnold (RINO) and McClintock (R). The choice was there, but people like you were to spineless or starstruck or stupid to make it.
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