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CA: Who's out of touch? Governor: Hike taxes for health 'reform' plan
San Diego Union -Tribune ^ | 2/24/09 | Editorial

Posted on 02/24/2009 9:17:25 AM PST by NormsRevenge

In his current incarnation, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger never tires of asserting that Republicans are too rigidly ideological.

On ABC's “This Week with George Stephanopoulos,” he called state GOP lawmakers out of touch for refusing to go along with his budget deal, which included $12.8 billion in higher taxes and (honestly calculated) about $7 billion in spending cuts.

Schwarzenegger in the next breath went on to reveal that he planned to renew his push for state health care “reform,” even if it requires another round of big tax hikes, “because that's what the people want you to do.”

This is mind-boggling.

The governor's proposal to require that most businesses either offer health insurance or pay a fee to the state to provide coverage died in January 2008 in the state Senate after the Legislative Analyst's Office reviewed the plan and warned that it was likely to run more than $12 billion in the red from 2008-09 to 2014-15.

Rejecting sharp criticism from Schwarzenegger and Assembly Speaker Fabian NÚñez, Senate President Don Perata said with utter accuracy that it would be reckless for a struggling state to take on a huge new expense.

That was 13 months ago. California is no longer struggling; it's bordering on collapsing.

But the governor still pushes his extremely costly health “reform” plan – and says it's what the public wants, higher taxes and all.

And Arnold Schwarzenegger thinks it is other politicians who are out of touch?

This is just bizarre. It becomes even more bizarre when one realizes how many recession-stricken businesses would quickly drop their own coverage in favor of subsidized state insurance, making the LAO's original $12 billion cost estimate seem absurdly optimistic.

But as far as the governor is concerned, none of this matters. No burden is too great for California taxpayers – so long as Arnold Schwarzenegger is remembered as a health care pioneer.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Editorial; Extended News; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: arnoldcare; arnoldlegacy; calbudget; california; healthreform; hiketaxes; outoftouch; schwarzenegger
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California is no longer struggling; it's bordering on collapsing.

But the governor still pushes his extremely costly health “reform” plan – and says it's what the public wants, higher taxes and all.

--

The ship is taking on water and he wants to go punch holes in the bottom to let it out.

Brilliant!

Where did we ever find him?

1 posted on 02/24/2009 9:17:25 AM PST by NormsRevenge
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I guess he sees stimulus packages as far as the eye can see.


2 posted on 02/24/2009 9:19:19 AM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed.)
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Comment #3 Removed by Moderator

To: NormsRevenge

“it’s what the public wants, higher taxes and all”

I have no doubt that’s true. Of course, the public in this case, means illegal aliens(who should have no say in anything) and millions of people who don’t pay taxes.


4 posted on 02/24/2009 9:21:15 AM PST by Tex Pete (Obama for Change: from our pockets, our piggy banks, and our couch cushions!)
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To: Tex Pete

CA is getting more of what it subsidizes..illegal aliens and their kids. And they are getting less of what it taxes..people who work, build and invest.
The Rat politicians are getting exactly what they want..more clients for the welfare state, more votes and more jobs for govt bureaucrats who pay union dues to re-elect the Rats.


5 posted on 02/24/2009 9:23:41 AM PST by Oldexpat (Drill Here, Drill There..we must drill everywhere.)
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To: NormsRevenge

Yeah sure Arnold, Weiss es Schwarz und Schwarz es Weiss.


6 posted on 02/24/2009 9:31:51 AM PST by Rockitz (This isn't rocket science- follow the money and you'll find truth.)
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To: NormsRevenge
Where did we ever find him?

Hollywood. He's only a super hero on the big screen. There really is a difference between a fantasy hero and someone who can do the job in the real world.

7 posted on 02/24/2009 9:32:50 AM PST by Myrddin
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To: Oldexpat

Too bad we are bailing out their fiscal irresponsibility.

The rampant spending will continue because no reforms are being made, and the federal government is enabling them.


8 posted on 02/24/2009 9:33:56 AM PST by Tex Pete (Obama for Change: from our pockets, our piggy banks, and our couch cushions!)
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To: NormsRevenge

The Gov. senses that crazy plans sound more reasonable during extreme crisis. People are less risk adverse when times are hard.

It is perfect Alinsky style social psychology.


9 posted on 02/24/2009 9:37:39 AM PST by Wiseghy ("You want to break this army? Then break your word to it.")
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To: NormsRevenge
Schwarzenegger hasn't changed. He's the same left wing ass he's always been.
10 posted on 02/24/2009 9:43:41 AM PST by Mojave (Don't blame me. I voted for McClintock.)
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To: Wiseghy

Why doesn’t AHnold just go ahead and repeal the laws of gravity. That way everyone could FLY to work. Good for the environment. And no more car crashes....savings on health care!


11 posted on 02/24/2009 9:55:50 AM PST by Timeout (The Brits have their royal family. We have our privileged "public servant" class.)
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To: NormsRevenge

“Schwarzenegger in the next breath went on to reveal that he planned to renew his push for state health care “reform,” even if it requires another round of big tax hikes, “because that’s what the people want you to do.”

This is an action of of someone aspiring to higher office and not a lame duck Governor. Old Arnold has greatly underestimated the strength of backlash that has started for RINO’s. He will soon find that the Republicans of California have no desire to back a man that pushed through this atrocious budget. I predict you will see Arnold switch parties after he is rebuffed by a newly energized California Republican party.


12 posted on 02/24/2009 10:16:31 AM PST by Cyman
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To: Oldexpat

The sad part is the idiots will still vote for a democrat to blind to see.


13 posted on 02/24/2009 10:17:32 AM PST by Vaduz
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To: NormsRevenge

The steriods and marriage into the Kennedy has unfortunately had dire results...his testacles have “shrivered” up. No brains, no testacles...the Kennedy conversion is complete.


14 posted on 02/24/2009 10:51:52 AM PST by A_Tradition_Continues (formerly known as Politicalwit ...05/28/98...Ain't no Newbie!)
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To: NormsRevenge
But the governor still pushes his extremely costly health “reform” plan – and says it's what the public wants, higher taxes and all. And Arnold Schwarzenegger thinks it is other politicians who are out of touch? This is just bizarre.

It's not bizarre at all when you acknowledge that that Arnold follows his Austrian ancestors.

"My relationship to power and authority is that I’m all for it," he once explained.
"People need somebody to watch over them.... Ninety-five percent of the
people in the world need to be told what to do and how to behave."
-- Arnold Schwarzenegger, U.S. News & World Report, Nov 26, 1990

15 posted on 02/24/2009 1:23:11 PM PST by calcowgirl ("Liberalism is just Communism sold by the drink." P. J. O'Rourke)
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To: NormsRevenge

Good God Almighty. Isn’t he done in 2010?


16 posted on 02/24/2009 1:57:44 PM PST by Arizona Carolyn
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To: calcowgirl

So people want tax hikes over jobs? Imagine when these economics 101 refugees find out how well that works out for their futures!


17 posted on 02/24/2009 2:33:54 PM PST by Arizona Carolyn
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To: Arizona Carolyn

I think our elite leaders would just prefer to get rid of that pesky middle-class.
Peasants and slaves don’t complain as much.

Wait for the “trade school for all” campaigns to launch in the next decade.


18 posted on 02/24/2009 3:01:24 PM PST by calcowgirl ("Liberalism is just Communism sold by the drink." P. J. O'Rourke)
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To: NormsRevenge

From governator to dipshitator in 42 billion easy step..


19 posted on 02/24/2009 4:36:43 PM PST by jwalsh07
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To: calcowgirl

sadly true


20 posted on 02/24/2009 6:26:25 PM PST by Arizona Carolyn
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