Governor Readies For Crucial Speech (Arnold To Lay Down Gauntlet In State Of State Address Today)

Los Angeles Times ^ | 01/06/04 | Peter Nicholas, Joe Mathews And Miguel Bastillo

[goldstategop]

The address is set for 5 p.m. today in the Assembly chamber. While Schwarzenegger discusses general issues today, he will leave many of the difficult details of how he intends to close a $14-billion deficit for Friday, when he is scheduled to release his 2004-05 budget.

Schwarzenegger's office consulted hundreds of people in preparing the speech and worked through multiple drafts, according to people who took part. In the address, the governor will reiterate his call for more bipartisanship in Sacramento's political culture. But the heart of the speech will be the importance of boosting the economy — a goal that, the governor will contend, hinges on an overhaul of the mechanism for providing health care to employees injured on the job.

Workers' comp rates are twice the national average and are often cited as a reason employers are moving jobs out of state. A special legislative session called by Schwarzenegger to improve the system thus far has yielded few results.

Shawn Steel, the immediate past chairman of the California Republican Party, said: "You're going to hear a lot of talk about growth, of opportunity and jobs. You're going to hear a lot of talk about a prospering economy."

Sal Russo, a Republican consultant who worked for former California Govs. Ronald Reagan and George Deukmejian, said the first state-of-the-state speech is crucial for any governor, but more so for Schwarzenegger.

"I think it's important for Schwarzenegger to define his administration because it's still not well-defined," Russo said. "I think the tone he sets is going to be really important. The theme of the speech will be change, that he's going to be a change-oriented governor."

[goldstategop]

The last sentence is the key you'll be hearing in today's address: change. And optimism. Though my reservation is how the Governor intends to send Californians the message government should be reined in? We'll see.

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[kingu]

I'm not going to hold my breath in the hopes that there will be some grand revisions of how things are done in California. I think the line item veto will end up being used a lot.

What I am hoping for is that he'll give an inspiring speech that will help lift the bootstraps of California and put us back on a productive path.

I can stand him holding back on attacking the liberal agenda that put us in this mess.. Just make us all feel good, Arnold, before you drop the bomb in the budget.

[Lancey Howard]

Most Democrats are in safe, parasite-infested districts. These Democrats wil say "no" to virtually any real cuts in the budget and their constituents (the parasites) will, of course, cheer them on. The other main Democrat constituency, the scumbag lawyers, are not about to let the politicians they've bought and paid for do anything to "reform" the workers' comp jackpot.

I simply do not see any argument that Arnold can make that will change anything. I agree with the poster who forsees lots of used up red pens (line-item vetoes), but I don't believe you can cut $14B that way. I hope I'm wrong.

[Young Rhino]

Tom Daschle McClintock is deeply saddened.

 

[KantianBurke]

enough blood's been shed on the McClintock/Arnold split. Arnold won. Let it go man, let it go.

[calcowgirl]

From the article:

Specifically, the governor will tout his "Hydrogen Highways" proposal, a plan to build from 150 to 200 filling stations for the alternative fuel along major roadways throughout the state by 2010. In addition, he will declare that he wants to speed up the state's efforts to require utilities to make renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power a sizable part of their portfolios. He will also announce plans to provide incentives for homeowners and developers to add environmentally friendly technologies such as solar panels to more of the state's homes.

I hope they are wrong about this. One would think there are greater priorities on which to spend limited resources.

[Hollywoodghost]

I would like some new ideas to come forward. He needs to give us hope that things will get better. If cuts must be made--make them and cut to the bone! Put in a toll booth at the border and charge people to come into the state.