Schwarzenegger Plays Hardball While Democrats Debate Whether Cowtails Should Be Amputated
posted at 9:08 am on July 2, 2009 by Rovin
[ Economics ] printer-friendly
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has decided some good ol’ country hardball might be just the remedy for Democrats who would rather play “kick the can”. While the Democratically led legislature has attempted to stall any further cuts to reach a budget agreement, (by asking for another sixty days of negotiations) Schwarzenegger, backed by Senate Republicans are refusing play the same old game, allowing the IOU process to go forward and giving state workers a third unpaid holiday. While the liberal paper, (the Sacramento Bee), presents Schwarzenegger’s “stubbornness” as a “negotiation strategy”, the Governor showed just how ridiculous Democrats look in the middle of a financial crisis:
“As a negotiating strategy, Schwarzenegger is counting on public pressure to mount against the Legislature as California issues IOUs today for only the second time since the Great Depression. The Republican governor could have backed legislation to avert IOUs this week, but he demanded that lawmakers solve the entire budget problem, which grew Wednesday to $26.3 billion.” LINK
Of course, a Democratic governor would have folded to the pressures of the SEIU and this liberally controlled legislature by insisting on new tax increases instead of reining in entitlement expenditures. Only the 2/3’s rule, (passed by the electorate), in the Senate has prevented the spending and taxing madness from becoming a reality. So, what does our Democrat legislature do? How about holding a hearing on cowtail amputation:
“Right now, in the midst of a budget crisis, they are debating about cow tails, and I think that this is inexcusable,” Schwarzenegger said. “I mean, how do they explain this to the California people, that in the midst of the biggest budget crisis we are having a debate about cow tails?”
Senate President Pro Tem Darrel Steinberg, D-Sacramento and Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles were not amused by Schwarzenegger’s tactics after asking the governor to “trust them”:
“Steinberg and Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, essentially asked Schwarzenegger to trust them. They promised the governor on Tuesday that they would work with him in the next two months on his proposals to change state government permanently if he’d back their stopgap plan.” (emphasis mine)
The citizens of California have sat idly by and watched these two fail to rein in spending for over a year, and we’re supposed to “trust them” with a promise of “permanent change”? Whose “tail”/tale do they think is getting cut here? Steinberg and Bass have been “at the plate” far too long–and Schwarzenegger’s throwin’ hardballs right by them. As one of my favorite Giants sportscaster’s saying goes after the third strike—”grab some pine–meat”.
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I still detest Arnold he has switched sides yet again. Had the Prop !A passed he’d be singing the opposite tune. The man has no spine.
Theworldisnotenough on July 2, 2009 at 9:50 AM
I’m glad he’s holding strong on this at this time. It’s the only answer. They must solve the crisis and not put it off any longer.
But I agree with Theworldisnotenough that he has long ago lost his spine and sings whatever tune is convenient for the moment.
Joy on July 2, 2009 at 2:00 PM
As a lifetime resident of California, (and while I certainly agree with your “evaluations” of Arnold), his current actions are refreshing compared to what Gray Davis, or another round with Jerry Brown would do to rubber stamp this legislature. I’m hoping that last months rejection by the taxpayers have Schwarzenegger’s undivided attention. And you can bet the eyes of D.C. are on every move this state, (the 8th largest economy in the world), is making—-or they should be.
Rovin on July 2, 2009 at 5:53 PM
Madame Speaker Bass is the same woman who compared right-wing talk radio hosts to terrorists and who suggested that the First Amendment should not apply. So that right there gives me pause about her mental faculties and why I should “trust” her.
I also agree that this is not the time to raise taxes. Corporations are being actively wooed by other states and many will consider it, California’s putative great weather, laid-back culture, and “educated” population notwithstanding. Cutting taxes at the federal level increased revenue for JFK, Reagan, Clinton, and Bush–why wouldn’t it work as well on a state level?
My suggestions for trimming the budget would include suspending all state commissions, suspending the per-diem for all members of the State Legislature (let them telecommute–it’s “greener”), and seriously consider resuming off-shore oil drilling (a previous source of royalties for the state, especially the UC and CSU systems).
Long term, I would like to see California return to a part-time legislature and seriously consider becoming unicameral, keeping the State Senate rather than the Assembly. Originally the Assembly was similar to the House of Representatives, representing populations, while the State Senate represented the Counties, giving equal representation to the lower populated agricultural counties with the more populated urban counties. The U.S. Supreme Court declared that arrangement illegal, so one of these State Houses is superfluous. My vote is to get rid of the larger of the two.
March Hare on July 3, 2009 at 3:17 PM