Yet Another California Campaign: Elections Abound In the Arnold Era

[marmar]

from HuffPost:




William Bradley
Yet Another California Campaign: Elections Abound In the Arnold Era
Posted March 2, 2009 | 06:54 PM (EST)



Video: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-bradley/yet-another-california-ca_b_171243.html



And they're off. Again.

The only year since 2001 that California has not had a statewide election was 2007. And that was when Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was busy with his rather Rube Goldberg-esque coalition of some business, labor, and health groups trying to pass a version of universal health care. Every other year, including this, has seen the tarnished Golden State holding at least one statewide election.

This May 19th it's another special statewide election, the fourth of the Arnold Era.

What's this one about? The recently, arduously concluded state budget compromise to close a $42 billion gap over 18 months caused by a combination of tax cuts, program expansions, and the economic crisis. I'll tell you what the six initiatives would do in a moment, but first the politics.

In order to get the mix of program cuts, temporary tax hikes, and some borrowing through with just enough Republican votes to pass muster under California's unusual two-thirds vote requirement for a state budget -- something it shares with only two other, small, states -- Schwarzenegger and Democratic and Republican legislative leaders had to get creative.

To deal with conservatives, and to fulfill a longtime Schwarzenegger goal, they created a state spending cap and a rainy day fund, which will fill with revenue during California's revenue boom times and make up much of the difference during California's revenue bust times. ........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-bradley/yet-another-california-ca_b_171243.html

[anigbrowl]

1. They abounded in the pre-Arnold era too

For a nominal Republican, Arnold is really not that bad a governor. He's far from perfect, but he's nothing like the typical GOP hacks; I'd support him for a third term if term limits allowed that. The fact that most republicans don't like him much any more should tell you something.

[marmar]

2. Sorry, but he's another corporatist Repug disguised in social moderate's clothes.....

.....He's contributed quite a bit to the mess California is in.

[anigbrowl]

3. That's the view from Michigan, eh?

I'll take my first-hand experience of living in CA for his entire period of office, thanks.