California: Governor looked weak on budget, but back on offense

Sacramento Bee ^ | December 19, 2003 | Dan Walters

[John Jorsett]

Lexicographers of American slang define "wuss" roughly as "weakling." Some believe that it may have originated in a Welsh word for "servant." Regardless of its origin, it's a word that one would scarcely associate with Arnold Schwarzenegger, the muscular hero of dozens of action films before becoming governor of California. Yet, a high-level Democratic staffer described Schwarzenegger as a "wuss" last week in the aftermath of his political surrender to Democratic legislators on his demand for a state spending limit.

[jraven]

As a Californian I will repeat what I have said before:
Democrats can scream that he is not compassionate enough, not experienced enough, or "too much" or a Republican.
Republicans can scream that he is too compassionate at the expense of fiscal emergencies, not experienced enough, or RINO.
But after Davis no matter what he is an IMPROVEMENT because he does have a vision about what the state should be, is trying to unravel problems, is trying to see who on each side he can get to push whatever solutions he has come through, and is concerned about more than just raising campaign funds and winning the next election.
I've always been against changing the constitution to let someone not born in the US run for president but if he can make a dent in CA's problems I will be out there passing around petitions.
So far I feel very good about my vote for Arnold...because frankly no mstter what he does it's an improvement over Davis...and he at least has specific goals to help the state.

[gr8eman]

The irony of the situation is that the problem Schwarzenegger solved for local governments is one that he created himself on inauguration day by deciding to reduce the property taxes on cars by two-thirds, reinstating a tax cut that his predecessor, Gray Davis, had eliminated only months earlier.

Whoa! Is this guy saying that the tripling of the CA car tax was a tax cut that Gray Davis had eliminated? Where is the DOPE SMOKER Alert?

[gr8eman]

Also, I thought car taxes are considered a luxury tax not a property tax. It is considered a luxury tax because we are oh so priveledged to need a car to get to work and not ride a bus like cattle!

[John Jorsett]

This guy's talking through his donkey. The increase was being challenged in court and would probably have been overturned, and refunds ordered. Schwarzenegger did the state a favor by not letting it get in too deep and incurring an obligation of billions that would have had to be paid back.

[NormsRevenge]

Bump

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The Demoncrats in Sacramento are so upset.....HaHa:

Schwarzenegger move blasted (charges of "unilateralism" fly)

[woodyinscc]

You can bet that Angelides and his ilk, are working behind the scenes, to thwart every positive move of the Gov. Not one of them will look back and say, it was our policies that got us to this point, maybe we were wrong. Too them it is unthinkable, and not in their hard wired pea brains...!

[forester]

Here is Arnold's official press release from the governor's website.

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12/18/2003

Governor Provides Immediate Funding For Counties, Cities 12/18/03

SACRAMENTO - Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today exercised his executive branch power to ensure that scheduled payments will be made to cities and counties.

"I was elected by the people of this state to lead; since the Legislative leadership refuses to act, I will act without them," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "We must protect the people in this state and give the cities and counties the money we owe them."

Flanked by law enforcement, fire personnel, and supervisors, the Governor today announced his decision to invoke mid-year budget authority granted to the Governor by the Legislature. Section 27 of the 2003 Budget Act allows the Governor to spend approximately $2.7 billion for local governments over the balance of the current budget year.

The section also gives the Governor new authority to redirect up to five percent of a specific appropriation item into another category. Schwarzenegger invoked this new authority to redirect nearly $150 million in current-year spending to provide funds to local governments.

The Governor also announced that the Department of Finance has informed him that revenue receipts and projections through the end of this fiscal year will be $1.8 billion higher than anticipated.

"I support local governments here today just as I did when the mayors of the state visited the Capitol weeks ago," said the Governor. "I had the responsibility to correct the error of the previous administration."

This action upholds the Governor's promise to provide local governments with the funds for essential local services -- including fire and police services. Attached is a copy of Finance Director Arduin's letter to the Legislature notifying them that the Administration is invoking the authorities under Section 27.

[tubebender]

Is it bad form to wish John "The Miserable" Burton the same fate as his brother Phil "The Terrible" Burton...

[cartoonistx]