Posted on 04/26/2005 5:03:37 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Just weeks after he shelved his plan to overhaul the state's public pension system, Gov. Schwarzenegger is expected to stump for his remaining reform measures Wednesday morning at an invitation-only town hall meeting at a Fontana steel plant.
About 500 people, including some steel workers, will be on hand for Schwarzenegger's visit at the 950-employee California Steel Industries, said Brett Guge, the company's vice president of administration.
"Our employees will be the primary ingredient of the audience but the governor's office has put together a list of area people that they are inviting," Guge said. "We're honored that the governor would use our company as a method to get out his message."
Officials with Schwarzenegger's office declined to comment on the governor's schedule for Wednesday.
The visit is being arranged through the Inland Empire Economic Partnership, an economic development group of more than 20 Inland cities and more than 100 private partners. Paul Hiller, the agency's executive director, said they have been trying for months to land an "Ask Arnold" session.
About two weeks ago, Schwarzenegger held a 45-minute town hall meeting in San Diego where he promoted measures -- merit pay for teachers, a state spending cap and legislative redistricting -- he hopes to put on a special election ballot in November. At that meeting, Schwarzenegger fielded questions posed by four people tapped by local Republican leaders.
"That's a little disappointing," said Hiller, who said he hopes area businesses will be allowed to ask more questions of the governor.
Assemblyman Joe Baca Jr., D-Rialto, who represents Fontana, said he hoped the governor will address some local issues, such as perchlorate contamination of the water supply.
Participants at previous "Ask Arnold" events were culled from local chambers of commerce and other groups supportive of the governor. Baca, who criticized Schwarzenegger's reform agenda, said he hopes the Fontana event will include people on both sides of the issues.
Increasing criticism led Schwarzenegger to drop his statepublic pension reform plan. Angry union protestors, including teachers, nurses and firefighters, have tracked his recent appearances to rail against the proposals.
Shaun Bowler, a political science professor at UC Riverside, said appearing before a Republican-friendly crowd is unlikely to generate support among voters from other parties whose backing is vital for the proposals to pass, Bowler said.
"This really can't be about trying to whip up support for his proposals. The venue just doesn't seem to be appropriate to do that," Bowler said. Inland economist John Husing said workers' compensation and a balanced budget will probably be on the agenda, and Husing said he hoped Schwarzenegger would be asked about the funding for transportation projects. "These are hugely important issues," Husing said. "All the trade coming through the ports is coming here. We need that trade to create jobs out here, but we need the infrastructure to make it all happen."
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