Upbeat governor signs unloved budget

Sac Bee ^ | 8/1/04 | Margaret Talev

[NormsRevenge]

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Saturday signed his first state budget, a month-late, $105 billion spending plan that fell short of the celebrity governor's promise of an on-time budget free of short-term fixes, special-interest pressures and partisan bickering.

Schwarzenegger signed the budget at a ceremony in the rotunda of the state Capitol, surrounded by county government leaders involved in the deal and dozens of tourists. The governor used his line-item veto power to cut $116 million from the plan approved earlier in the week by lawmakers.

In his remarks, Schwarzenegger betrayed little of the frustration that, during the budget impasse, led him to call Democratic lawmakers "girlie men" and threaten to run them out of office if they didn't bend to his demands.

Nor did he acknowledge the trouble he faced until the end in corralling fellow Republicans in the Legislature to deliver the votes he needed to close a deal. The measure was approved 69-11 by the Assembly and 28-11 by the Senate, with Republicans leading the opposition. Instead, Schwarzenegger embraced the finished product as a bipartisan success that keeps schools and social programs largely intact and appeals to businesses because it relies on borrowing rather than raising taxes.

"This budget keeps California on track for economic recovery - because that is what we need," the governor said. "We need more jobs, we need more businesses and we need more opportunities for all Californians.

"When both parties work together in a bipartisan way we can accomplish anything."

The vetoes, while adding up to just one-tenth of 1 percent of the budget, contrasted with the less than $1 million former Gov. Gray Davis vetoed a year ago.

[NormsRevenge]

The governor used his line-item veto power to cut $116 million from the plan approved earlier in the week by lawmakers.

Token vetos.. Woo Hoo. I mean,,Huh? :=\

[TheDon]

Sigh....a real disapppointment. Looks like Arnold forgot his line item veto sword, and used his pen knife instead.

[calcowgirl]

The measure was approved 69-11 by the Assembly and 28-11 by the Senate, with Republicans leading the opposition.

Sure am glad we've taken back Sacramento! /s

Here's the 11 Senators who opposed the budget. AMAZING, my DEM Senator (Bowen) opposed it because it wasn't balanced. First bit of integrity I've seen her demonstrate.

Aanestad
Battin
Bowen
Brulte
Denham
Hollingsworth
Margett
McClintock
Morrow
Oller
Poochigian