Free Republic

Michael Shires, professor of Public Policy at Pepperdine scratches the itch of why government is so expensive in California; including local county and municipal governments. Shires argues that it is just not a matter of increased taxes v. cutting services; this is how Democrats and Republicans in the California legislature paint the picture. Rather, revenue declines are only a small part of the problem. While services and their cost actually do not increase, the annual increase of secretly negotiated salary, benefits, and cost-of-living increases benefitting unionized public employees is killing budgets, savings, and family finances statewide.Shires writes: “Most public employees...

So a special election is a big risk even for a celebrity politician considered by many to be invincible. If there's no compromise with the Legislature on these proposals, there'll be a bitterly partisan shootout between Schwarzenegger and Democrats — between his special interests and the Democrats' interests, including the potent California Teachers Assn. The Terminator could meet his match in teachers — and schoolkids and parents.