The governor stumbles

OC Register ^ | 12/21/03 | Op/Ed

[NormsRevenge]

Californians went to the trouble of recalling their governor in order to put in power a leader willing to make tough choices and stand up to a free-spending Legislature. Yes, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has maneuvered the Legislature into undoing SB 60, the blockheaded law that gave illegal immigrants the right to California driver's licenses, and overturned the illegal tripling of the vehicle license fee.

[NormsRevenge]

.

[Grut]

But since then, the governor has been rolled by the Legislature. Seemingly more intent on winning friends than making hard choices...

See? And all you doubters thought he wasn't a real Republican!

[Lancey Howard]

Doesn't matter because Arnold will NOT raise taxes, not in a million years. Everybody would conclude that Arnold is a lying scumbag if he allowed any tax increases and Arnold is a stand-up guy who keeps his word. He will NOT raise taxes.

"Spending caps" will happen all by themselves. Like magic!

[boris]

All he can do is the occasional veto.

His real contribution--already accomplished--was TERMINATING Gray Davis' presidential ambitions.

--Boris

[CurlyDave]

That was a very big one indeed.

Another accomplishment is the oft-reported list of campaign promises he keeps checking off. If other politicians tried this we would be in a lot better shape.

Lastly, talk is cheap. Arnold has been delivering and he keeps right on doing it. He will never satisfy all the whiners.

[TheAngryClam]

ping

[KellyAdmirer]

Arnold is indeed checking off his campaign promises. He is getting no credit for changing the whole tone to one of restraint. Would Gray Davis have declared a fiscal emergency?

If Arnold had forced some kind of fiscal Götterdämmerung as the perpetual critics appear to wish, there wouldn't have been another Republican elected there statewide for 20 years.

[Amerigomag]

One Prop 57 would float a $15 billion bond to bail out the state for previous overspending. The second initiative Prop 58 would cap spending.

The emphasis is mine because the statement is a deception.

Prop 58 authorizies the bonding.

Prop 57 simply sets the amount.

[NormsRevenge]

[Amerigomag]

Then, late in the week, the governor used an emergency mechanism to earmark funds toward cities to make up in part for revenue they lost when the car-tax increase was repealed, and to cut $150 million in line items from the state budget.

Yet another deception in this article.

The tax rate has not changed. The "in lieu of" tax rate on motor vehicles has not changed. It remains fixed at 2%.

Schwarzengger simply shifted some of the burden off motor vehicles owners and on to college students and the poor to pay the 2% vehicle tax

[spokeshave]

Arnie made an end run around the dems....and they are infuriated.....EXCELLENT.../Burns Voice Off

[Amerigomag]

and they are infuriated.....EXCELLENT

Agreed but didn't you elect Schwarzenegger to cut spending?

Before you react with a cute knee jerk, I realize he's only been in office for about 30 days and any judgment should be delayed until about mid February. You can bet however that I will again pose the same query in mid February if things remain unchanged.

While infuriating Democrats is fun it's also child's play and it won't solve California's problems. A reduction in the size of the California budget will.

[calcowgirl]

One Prop 57 would float a $15 billion bond to bail out the state for previous overspending. The second initiative Prop 58 would cap spending.

The emphasis is mine because the statement is a deception.

Prop 58 authorizies the bonding.
Prop 57 simply sets the amount.
---------------------------------

Amerigomag, I like your interpretation. Here's mine:

Prop 58 authorizies the bonding.

Prop 57 amends the Constitution to permit the debt.

Without the Prop 57 Constitutional Amendment, the borrowing is prohibited by the Constitution.

[calcowgirl]

The tax rate has not changed. The "in lieu of" tax rate on motor vehicles has not changed. It remains fixed at 2%.

Schwarzengger simply shifted some of the burden off motor vehicles owners and on to college students and the poor to pay the 2% vehicle tax

Thank you for hammering on this one. I have yet to see an accurate description of these transactions in the media... and I only understood the dynamics after reading your posts.

[Jennikins]

**Schwarzengger simply shifted some of the burden off motor vehicles owners and on to college students and the poor to pay the 2% vehicle tax**

I'm sick to death of these complainers always worrying about the college students and the POOR!! Give us a break. You will NEVER please everyone.

[Amerigomag]

I'm sick to death of these complainers always worrying about the college students and the POOR!! Give us a break

I guess my tone of voice didn't translate too well over text, but I really don't care about the college students and the poor.