http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/schwarzenegger/ en-us Sat, 4 Jul 2009 00:52:21 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285194/posts Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has set Nov. 3 as the special election date to replace former 10th Congressional District representative Ellen Tauscher. The primary election will be held Sept. 1.Per special election rules, the primary is an open ballot, meaning that all candidates will appear on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation. The top vote-getter in each party plus the nonpartisan candidates will advance to the general election unless one candidate receives in the primary 50 percent plus one vote. If that occurs, the candidate will win the post outright. CoCo Times: Political Blotter http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285194/posts#comment Sat, 4 Jul 2009 00:52:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285149/posts As California's fiscal crisis careened out of control with Thursday's issuance of IOUs, Democrats and Republicans remained deadlocked, largely over one of the state's biggest responsibilities: providing a safety net for poor and sick residents.At the center of the dispute is a question over how deeply the state should cut spending on health care for poor children, welfare payments to single mothers and in-home services for the elderly and the disabled.Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger initially wanted to eliminate such programs. But in the past week, the governor softened his stand, instead demanding deep cuts, the rooting out of fraud in the... San Francisco Chronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285149/posts#comment Fri, 3 Jul 2009 23:42:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284965/posts Remember the Arnold Schwarzenegger who, exactly five years ago, denounced state legislators as "girlie men" beholden to unions because they failed to pass a state budget? He's back, sensing that time is running out on his 2003 campaign promise to stop "crazy deficit spending." "I was sent to Sacramento to fix the broken system," Schwarzenegger said Thursday, demanding that the Legislature close a budget deficit without new taxes. The Republican governor accused lawmakers – implicitly the Legislature's dominant Democrats – of ignoring "waste, fraud and abuse," adding a phrase reminiscent of his famous "girlie man" epithet: "They're just beholden to... Sacramento Bee http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284965/posts#comment Fri, 3 Jul 2009 18:02:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2284939/posts A couple of months ago, I was doing an on-air interview with KPFA radio about the state budget and found myself saying out loud "I never thought I'd ever say this, but I want Pete Wilson back." The interviewer burst out laughing. Yes, Governor Pete Wilson did things I strongly disagreed with when he vetoed a bill on employment discrimination against gay people and when he frequently chose business over environmental protection - but he knew how to be Governor. If you have to have a Republican Governor, it would at least be nice to have one who didn't have... San Francisco Chronicle / sfgate.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2284939/posts#comment Fri, 3 Jul 2009 17:11:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284818/posts In San Luis Obispo County, a 20-year-old drug abuser who was the sole caretaker for his seriously disabled father provided such poor care that, according to the grand jury in that county, the father frequently had bedsores, he was not properly cleaned, adult protective services had to be called in and, ultimately, he died before he was 60 years old. Incredibly, the son was being paid by the state, through the In-Home Supportive Services Program, for this substandard care. Though this kind of abuse of taxpayer dollars is not rampant, we know it exists. So how could the Legislature in... Los Angeles Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284818/posts#comment Fri, 3 Jul 2009 13:58:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2284354/posts Hard working Americans = IO,IO,IO, so off to work I go. American Politicians = IOU,IOU,IOU, so on vacation we go, and SCRE! you. The Daily Change http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2284354/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 19:58:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284348/posts Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger used the finger Thursday for his latest attack on the Legislature. The governor said he can't understand why the Democrat-controlled Legislature opposes his budget-related proposal to require fingerprinting of recipients of in-home support services, which help elderly, blind and disabled Californians live independently. "That's why I don't understand the Legislature," he said in a Los Angeles press conference. Schwarzenegger's fingerprinting proposal, part of a package of governmental changes he seeks in budget negotiations, is meant to help detect fraud committed by people receiving aid under numerous identities. "(Legislators) say this is an insult," Schwarzenegger said. "I say... SacBee: Capitol Alert http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284348/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 19:53:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283856/posts Gov: State's deficit has grown to $26.3 billion Matthew Yi, Richard Procter,Wyatt Buchanan, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau Wednesday, July 1, 2009 Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said today that the state's deficit has grown by $2 billion - to $26.3 billion due to the Legislature's failure to pass a comprehensive solution to solve the state's shortfall. The Republican governor also declared a fiscal emergency, citing the Legislature's inability to pass a plan by last night's midnight deadline. The fiscal emergency means that under Proposition 58, lawmakers will have 45 days to adopt a plan to close the deficit. If they fail to meet... SFChronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283856/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 04:27:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283710/posts Regulation: Ignoring the first rule of holes, a bankrupt state passing out IOUs welcomes an EPA waiver allowing it to further kill its economy. Too bad the state can't stop the air pollution imported from a growing China. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday granted California its long-standing request — denied by the Bush administration — for a waiver to allow it to impose even more stringent air pollution rules than currently required by the federal government.The way is now clear for implementation of a 2002 state law requiring new cars to increase their fuel economy 40% by 2016.... IBD Editorials http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283710/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 00:16:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283538/posts SACRAMENTO – Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a fiscal emergency to address California's deficit and has ordered state offices closed three days a month to save cash. The Legislature will have 45 days to send him a plan to balance the state's budget, which ended the fiscal year with a $24.3 billion deficit. The shortfall is expected to grow by $7 billion because the Legislature did not enact several stopgap measures Tuesday. If lawmakers fail to act within the 45 days, they cannot adjourn or act on other bills until they solve the crisis. AP on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283538/posts#comment Wed, 1 Jul 2009 20:23:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283515/posts SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, in his effort to end the partisan bickering that is pushing California to the brink of insolvency, is deploying Susan Kennedy, his cigar-smoking, paintball-playing Democratic chief of staff, to get the job done. The 48-year-old Ms. Kennedy has built a reputation as a pragmatic leader equally inclined to work with -- and lambaste -- lawmakers from both parties. Such a regard would have been unthinkable five years ago, when Republicans viewed her as a stereotypical Democrat -- a former director of the state party and top aide to Gov. Gray Davis who lives... Wall Street Journal Online http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283515/posts#comment Wed, 1 Jul 2009 20:03:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283501/posts Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today said he will reinstitute "furlough Fridays" for state workers and ordered a third furlough day each month through June 2010 next year. At a morning press conference, the governor also repeated his refusal to sign any piecemeal budget bills to avoid IOUS and said he will not sign bills on any other subject until he and the Legislature reach agreement on an overall budget solution. "Though the legislature failed to solve our budget problem yesterday, rest assured that solving the entire deficit remains my first and only priority, and I will not rest until we get... Sac Bee http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283501/posts#comment Wed, 1 Jul 2009 19:48:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283495/posts SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The California governor's office says federal officials are threatening to seize six state parks if they are closed to help balance the state's budget. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed closing 220 state parks. But the National Park Service warned in a letter to Schwarzenegger that six of those parks are on former federal land that could revert to the U.S. government if they are not kept open as parks. ap on Sac bee http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283495/posts#comment Wed, 1 Jul 2009 19:41:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2281660/posts In a controversial simple-majority vote Sunday night, the state Assembly approved raising taxes on oil production and tobacco products as part of a Democratic budget proposal that closes most of the $24.3 billion budget shortfall through June 2010. But the plan met immediate resistance when a spokesman for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vowed that the Republican would veto such an end run around GOP lawmakers. Bills containing new taxes normally require a two-thirds majority to be enacted. "He will veto any majority-vote budget fix," said Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear. "I think this shows that the Legislature is not yet serious about... San Francisco Chronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2281660/posts#comment Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:30:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2281027/posts Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, seeking to conquer what could be the last budget crisis of his tenure, is engaged in a high-stakes negotiating strategy with lawmakers that could force him to preside over a meltdown of state government. As legislators have scrambled to stop the state from postponing payment of its bills and issuing IOUs starting next week, the governor has vowed to veto any measure that fails to close the state's entire $24-billion deficit. *** The governor readily admits that he sees the crisis as a chance to make big changes to government -- to "reform the system," he said... The Los Angeles Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2281027/posts#comment Sun, 28 Jun 2009 06:14:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2279992/posts California's budget problems evolved into a game of political chicken Thursday, as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and GOP state senators took an all-or-nothing stance that could lead to issuing IOUs to pay the state's bills. On highly unusual bipartisan votes, the Assembly overwhelmingly passed three bills that would free up cash for the fiscal year that starts Wednesday, by cutting school spending and delaying some payments to schools, colleges and local governments. But the bills sank in the Senate in the face of united opposition by Republican senators and the governor – despite the fact that the measures were part of... Sacramento Bee http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2279992/posts#comment Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:55:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2279417/posts California cities will sue the state if its new fiscal budget includes "stealing" local gas tax funds, leaders for the League of California Cities warned today. "Our intention is to be prepared to file a lawsuit the day after the budget is signed," Chris McKenzie, the league's executive director, said at a news conference in the Sacramento Convention Center. "The (state) Constitution and statutes have never authorized the state to steal gas tax funds." Sacramento Bee http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2279417/posts#comment Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:58:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2279414/posts Unusually unified legislators were moving today to prevent the state from issuing IOUs next week by delaying some payments to schools and local governments - but Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger warned he would veto the maneuver. On votes of 69-0 and 54-0, Assembly members passed two of three bills designed to free up cash and buy the state time while legislators and Schwarzenegger wrestle with the bigger task of healing a gaping wound in the state budget. The third bill was also expected to be approved by the Assembly, and the state Senate was also expected to pass them. But in... Sacramento Bee http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2279414/posts#comment Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:56:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2277025/posts With California slipping into a financial sinkhole, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is proposing to save more than $180 million by cutting short the sentences of thousands of immigrants in the state's prisons and turning them over to federal authorities for deportation. The idea faces certain hurdles — for one thing, commuting some sentences will require court approval — and immigration authorities warn that a mass release of inmates from California and other states could swamp the federal system, which is already at capacity. But Schwarzenegger spokeswoman Lisa Page said: "Every dollar not spent to house an undocumented immigrant inmate is a... News Max http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2277025/posts#comment Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:47:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2276208/posts Sure, California's economy has seen better days, our budget is a mess, and we've been wondering whether the federal government might help us out with our cash flow. But the barbs sent our way by politicians and commentators in Washington are getting to be a bit much. Democrats suggest that we're all selfish folks who refuse to tax ourselves enough to support our spending. (They should talk.) Republicans say the entire state is addicted to over-spending. (They should talk, too -- see the rising deficits of the Bush era.) Such commentary has been offered with heaping plates of schadenfreude, as... Washington Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2276208/posts#comment Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:14:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2275712/posts Governor's plane makes emergency landing in Van Nuys June 19, 2009 Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s private jet made an emergency landing at Van Nuys Airport tonight after the pilot reported smoke coming from the cockpit, according to a statement released by the governor’s press secretary. The jet was about 10 minutes from Santa Monica Airport, its destination, when the pilot made a quick landing at 6:23 p.m. Although there wasn’t a visible fire, the Los Angeles Fire Department met the jet on the runway. Upon landing, the governor disembarked and traveled home. No one was harmed in the incident. Schwarzenegger posted... LATimes http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2275712/posts#comment Sat, 20 Jun 2009 05:15:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2275659/posts LOS ANGELES (AFP) – California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has asked President Barack Obama to declare a federal disaster in the drought-stricken heart of the state's agricultural industry. As well as requesting federal support for parched Fresno County, Schwarzenegger also issued a local order allowing for emergency state funds to be made available to the region, part of California's Central Valley. "California's Central Valley is our nation's agricultural engine and unemployment here is devastating the economy and hurting the people of California," said Schwarzenegger. "These are dire circumstances -- no water means no work -- and no work means people cannot... AFP on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2275659/posts#comment Sat, 20 Jun 2009 02:07:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2275192/posts California lawmakers passed a budget in February, but as the nation's economic downturn continued, so did the state's balance sheet. Over the past several months, state analysts predicted that in the 2009-10 fiscal year - which begins July 1 - the state would receive between $21.3 billion and $24.3 billion less than what it needed to cover spending in the February budget. That sent Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the legislature back to drawing board to find ways to spend less or bring in more money. On Wednesday, about a month after Schwarzenegger announced his budget proposal, the Democratic-controlled legislature released... Daily Bulletin http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2275192/posts#comment Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:31:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2274912/posts Lawmaker returns joke gift from Schwarzenegger Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press A bull testicle sculpture for Sen. Darrell Steinberg was meant as a prod to help with tough budget choices. By Patrick McGreevy and Eric Bailey June 18, 2009 Reporting from Sacramento -- As lawmakers wrangled last week over how to plug California's giant deficit, the governor who once called them "girlie men" sent the state Senate leader a package that has some Capitol insiders tsk-tsking over what they see as an ill-timed display of machismo. The gag gift from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a metal sculpture of bull testicles, came... LATimes http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2274912/posts#comment Fri, 19 Jun 2009 02:49:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2274898/posts (AP) — SACRAMENTO, Calif. - It was a gift no girlie man would give. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has warned lawmakers they need to act boldly and make some tough budget choices, sent Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg a metal sculpture of bull testicles. It was intended as a gag gift but Steinberg, a Sacramento Democrat, was not amused and returned the football-sized gift with a terse note about the seriousness of the ongoing negotiations. Associated Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2274898/posts#comment Fri, 19 Jun 2009 02:21:46 GMT