California Governor Schwarzenegger launches right-wing agenda

[Karmadillo]

Strange how the election of Schwarzenegger was a 24/7 media story, but the manner in which Schwarzenegger governs is an approximately 0/7 one.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/nov2003/cali-n29.shtml

Within the first two weeks of taking office, California’s recently elected replacement governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has unveiled a series of reactionary measures. In addition to laying out an initial $3.8 billion worth of cuts in social services, Schwarzenegger is calling for the implementation of a budgetary spending cap and a massive borrowing scheme that will ultimately lead to the gutting of public services of all kinds.

The Republican administration is seeking to provide big business with immediate benefits, while staving off fiscal insolvency by means of a $15 billion bond measure. This massive increase in state debt will enable Schwarzenegger to put off the most brutal cuts in social programs until after the November 2004 presidential election.

There are two main reasons for this tactic: first, to avoid provoking public outrage against a Republican administration in the midst of President Bush’s bid for reelection, and, second, to ease the way for the Democratic Party in California to collaborate in the implementation of the Republican social agenda. Democrats dominate both houses of the California Legislature and therefore it is imperative that Schwarzenegger bring a significant section of them on board in order to implement his policies.

The $3.8 billion in budget cuts proposed by Schwarzenegger over the next two years take aim at California’s most vulnerable populations. The proposed measures would restrict food stamp eligibility, eliminate art-based therapy for the developmentally disabled, decrease compensation for doctors who treat patients in the state’s health insurance program for the needy, reduce financial support for children in foster care, slash funding for the provision of in-home and transportation services for the elderly, and freeze enrollment in California’s health insurance program for poor children. In addition, $98 million in unspecified cuts would be imposed at the state’s public universities, and campus recruitment programs would be eliminated.

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[La_Serpiente]

1. I heard he wants to change the Constitution

and instead of having an annual meeting of the legislature, it will become a meeting every two years.

[Bridget Burke]

18. Just like Texas!

Our legislators only meet every two years--not counting special sessions ordered by DeLay.

[opihimoimoi]

2. The Unfortunate thing about this whole shitty picture: Hardly anyone gives

a Rats Ass.
People jus don care to find out what the Pubs are doing until its too late, the damage done, and long years of costly repairs.
Many peoples of the World went thru Bad Leadership, sometimes for extended periods of time. But do we Americans learn from this? Hardly.

Fuck it, we go drink

[Cleita]

3. Well, California has it's very own Austrian dictator now.

All of these issues, which the electorate voted for, are being overturned by Governor Die Fuhrer at the behest of his Washington masters. We are no longer a democracy in this state, but will be told what we need to do, by an idiot who has taken too many steriod in his life to think clearly. I am almost tempted not to vote except in national elections. It seems like a waste of time to me.

[OldSoldier]

21. "Die Fuhrer"? He has no penis?

German nouns have "gender"--they can be masculine, feminine or neuter.

Der Fuehrer: a male leader

Das Fuehrer: a female leader

Die Fuehrer: a sexless leader

Hmmm...come to think of it, don't those steroids make you impotent?

[quinnox]

4. Sounds like a good time

for a recall election.

[TLM]

7. we need to wait about 4 more months...

then we can start the recall arnold campaign.

[Cleita]

19. What are we going to use to recall him with?

So far the sexual battery charges don't seem to have made a difference.

[bobbyboucher]

25. What real reason did they have to recall Davis?

49 States have defecits. The Federal defecit is historic. The energy crisis was collusion and extortion and he didn't have the power to stop it(but Bush did). The car reg fees was an automatic increase written into the law, by the lagislature and his Republican predecessor.

I say we start today!

RECALL THE GROPER!

[PROGRESSIVE1]

5. The great "leadership" of......

"Governor Hitler Lover"!

[HawkerHurricane]

6. No surprises here

Exactly what I said he would do; I wonder if my friends will apologize for not believeing me?

[frylock]

20. don't hold your breath.

[madrchsod]

8. add the destrution

of the workman`s comp. program.karl picked the right guy ,didn`t he?

[jiacinto]

9. One problem

Your source has the word "Socialist" in it and thus it's not credible to most people.

[Scott Lee]

11. Well then "most people" need to grow a brain

and a sense of intellectual curiosity. WSWS is a fantastic news source; arguably one of the best left on the net. I will not excuse people's laziness or willingness to be ignorant. Educate yourselves.

[jiacinto]

14. That's not going to change peoples' mind

People won't get past the name.

[KFC]

12. Yep: an opinion piece from the World Socialist Web Site

Not exactly the BBC.

[RichM]

16. In other words, if you can't argue with the analysis, smear the source.

Just what you'd expect from jiacinto.

[GreenPartyVoter]

10. Not the least bit surprised

I hope Maria opts to hold out on him til he comes to his senses. *l*

[Ksec]

13. you . bastard!

Typical Repuglycan. Lie to get in and then go far right extremist.

[sweetheart]

15. Too bad, i sorta liked him...

not as a politician.. EVER... but he is funny and classy as an actor. I respected him... now i think he's a shit... along with the rest of the republican sludge. Fucking the poor .. how republican.

[YNGW]

17. Just out of interest.....

Given the current budget shortfalls in California, what would some of the writers here have suggested he have done to close the gap?

[frylock]

22. not rescind the car tax increase..

that's 4 billion that the state could have used. I own 2 vehicles myself, and could ill afford the increase, but the state really needs that cash.

[YNGW]

26. Taxes

Yeah, but that's essentially a tax on the poor. It hurts them much worse than the middle class or rich.

[ellie]

24. Didn't he settle the Enron case for pennies on the dollar?

I don't recall the billions involved, but I am sure that would have a long way toward helping out the problem.

[YNGW]

27. Enron

How long had that agreement been under negotiations? Seems odd that an agreement like that could be reached so soon after the recall.

[Terwilliger]

23. I suppose Camejo is responsible for this

probably the media too

Can't be a Democrat! They never do ANYTHING wrong!