A Dose of Reality for Schwarzenegger (MClintock opposes California bond measure)

LA TImes ^ | Nov. 20, 2003 | Gregg Jones and Evan Halper

[FairOpinion]

"... the governor faced concerns from fellow Republicans over his plan to deal with California's fiscal difficulties without a tax increase.

Brulte said he expected the borrowing proposal to pass the Senate eventually. But Sen. Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) said he would vote against it, and other Republicans interviewed Wednesday echoed concerns already raised by Burton and other Democrats.

"I think it's fiscally irresponsible to use long-term, general obligation bonds to meet state expenses," McClintock said after the Senate session. "That is why, for over 100 years, the state Constitution has prohibited that practice — to prevent a prodigal generation from running up a huge debt while it parties, then passing the bill on to his children."

He added, "A deficit bond will not have my vote."

Brulte said the key to Schwarzenegger's fiscal recovery plan was a cap on state spending, a central Republican demand. "If the price I have to pay for a spending cap is a willingness to support a deficit bond, I'm willing to look at that," Brulte said. "But our prime objective is the spending cap."

[Lancey Howard]

I don't trust the LA Times as far as I can throw Molly Ivins. I am sure they will say anything if they think it will sow discord among Republicans and screw up Arnold (who I support and want to see succeed). I would suggest a little caution before taking any bait offered up by the Slimes.

Regards,
LH

[ArneFufkin]

In the minds of the McClintock tong, they are thrilled with their 13.5% showing. They see that as enough to derail any other GOP candidate for statewide office who dare not acceed to their CRA extortions.

California be damned. Bad, bad people - greedy for power and money. Power and money that is secured by LOSING elections.

[meanspirit77]

Way to go Tom! Keep standing up for Conservative ideals and keep sticking it in the face of the Socialist Rinorats.

If the state can't stop the spending it should go bankrupt and if that bankruptcy fuels the flames of anarchy, it will be all to the good. Nothing gets fixed until it's really busted and this state is busted like none other.

[A CA Guy]

McClintock is insignificant and unelectable, but can garner liberal worship with his McCain type spoiling tendencies.

McClintock becomes the foil and enabler for every liberal rag to write all kinds of stories against Republicans (including Arnold). They will quote McClintock like a big-time source because he is spouting negatives that serve the liberal cause again.

I am so NOT surprised.

I must go to my bathroom now and shower my McToilet.

[ArneFufkin]

If the state can't stop the spending it should go bankrupt and if that bankruptcy fuels the flames of anarchy, it will be all to the good. Nothing gets fixed until it's really busted and this state is busted like none other.

Would you please replace the sewer lid when you emerge from your home?

[StoneColdGOP]

Shhhh!!!!

They taunt and call names in the most infantile way if you dare to show anything but blind allegiance to Herr Schwarzenegger.

[South40]

In the minds of the McClintock tong, they are thrilled with their 13.5% showing.

For someone who came to be known during the campaign as "Mr. 6%", 13.5% must have felt like a victory.

The stark fact is...he's still a loser.

[onyx]

ROFLMAO! Keep this up and I'll be into size 6 jeans by morning!

[heleny]

about 32 percent of the state budget is tied down by mandated spending, primarily for education

(I thought CA spent more on education than 32% minus other mandated spending.)
Since education spending is such a large fraction of our budget, it's important to cut spending there as well as across the board. We don't need to cut classroom/school spending, but we can reduce the burdensome state education administration.

Besides, if we make cuts to the rest of the general fund, then we can cut education spending by about the same percentage and still keep in line with Prop 98.

[StoneColdGOP]

Ahhh... OK. So Tom is the sellout to the Democrat Party.

Tell me something, is there anyone else who is supposed to be protected from criticism on FR? I mean aside from President Bush and Governor Schwarzenegger?

Amazing how principle can take a back to seat to the mindless drive to jump on the bandwagon.

[Kay Soze]

"ballot initiatives"

Its how he will take power away from the Dims and give it me and my family!

Nothing scares dimocrat as much as direct democracy.

Go Ahnold!

[RKV]

The 11th commandment has been forgotten here (Thou shalt not speak evil of fellow Republicans). McC was talking policy and certain folks here want to talk personality. I wish they would quit changing the subject and focus on what we should be doing to fix our problem. I wonder if they are trolls or RATs. They don't sound conservative by suggesting higher taxes (since you have to pay bonds anyway, right?).

[Dan from Michigan]

Gotta question here.

I voted on a school bond last summer. It was for a 2nd high school. On the bond is says that it will be payed by an increase in the mills..aka property taxes. Needless to say, I voted no.

If Arnold gets his bond to pass, would voting yes mean automatic tax increases?

[RKV]

The money has to come from somewhere. Either taxes go up so general fund revenues can cover other things or other expenses must be cut to fund payment of the bond. Pick one. To me there is another huge issue here, which the media is doing its level best to suppress - competitiveness. The PRK is an expensive place to do business, and this is bad for profits and that is bad for state revenues. Call it supply side, but I think that is where Republicans really need to get together.

[FairOpinion]

I personally saw a clip of McC saying, what the LAT quoted him as saying.

He was being sanctimoneous and holier than though.

There are also other articles quoting him.

As someone else pointed out, the liberal media loves quoting McClintock criticizing the plan of a Republican governor 3 days after inauguration. McC can't be so stupid, as not to realize this, so the alternative must be true, he is doing it deliberately, knowing full well, that he is helping the liberals and Dems against Arnold.

[FirstPrinciple]

We could lay off the whole Humanities program from the UC system and that would save tons of money. I would love to see these fuzzy headed race and gender theorists going nuts over losing tenure.

[RKV]

As a UC alumnus I heartily concur.

[RKV]

Strawman argument. Yeah he does come off that way, but he has been advocating the doing the right things since before Arnie even though about state elective office and maybe that's why he sounds that way. I do care more about the results than about the personalities who get credit for the outcome. Its a free country and McC can say what he thinks. I personally thing that a bond issue is poison. So is raising taxes. What is left - cut spending and reduce regulations. Use initiatives if the legislature won't come around.

[Sabertooth]

If Arnold gets his bond to pass, would voting yes mean automatic tax increases?

Depends on the wording of the bond, IIRC.

They absolutely, positively, do mean inevitable tax increases.

[Amerigomag]

I think McClintock would serve the interests of California and those of Republican better, if he would come up with a list of suggested spending caps and cuts

If I hadn't seen your screen name 100 times a day on this forum during the recall debate I'd think you had just crawled out of a cave after a 100 day nap.

Is it a possibility that you didn't once look at the opponent's campaign web site during the recall process? The plan has been on the table for months.