Posted on 03/31/2004 7:12:47 AM PST by Brian_Baldwin
Schwarzenegger (Gov, CA-R) may now reverse and come out Against new proposed Legislation providing Illegals a Drivers License REF: Oakland Tribune In an interview with reporters, as published in the (CA) Oakland Tribune newspaper today as part of an article that the Governor is polling tax payers in regards to tax hikes, Schwarzenegger now is saying the newly proposed legislation to give illegal aliens drivers licenses “may be impossible to work out”. An earlier Schwarzenegger interview with a Mexican language television station indicated he was willing to do whatever it takes to “get it done” to forward newly proposed legislation to give illegals from Mexico valid California drivers licenses so long as some security were introduced in such licensing. During his campaign for Governor, he opposed legislation to grant illegal aliens a valid California drivers license, but the interview with a Mexican language television station in which he indicated he would now endorse such legislation caused alarm for many Californians. The most recent interview could now indicate that he may be reversing his position on this issue for a third time, likely due to recent internal polling on the issue, and is now unlikely to support such legislation granting drivers licenses to illegal aliens. His current position is not clear, and uses such language as “may”, “may be impossible”. Refer to today’s Oakland Tribune article below. http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,82~1865~2052977,00.html
By Steve Geissinger, SACRAMENTO BUREAU SACRAMENTO -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger indicated in an interview Tuesday that his political advisers are polling voters on tax hikes and said he'd at least consider a budget from lawmakers containing taxes and fee increases as the state wrestles with a multibillion-dollar deficit. If the Democrat-dominated Legislature sent him a spending plan that included tax hikes to blunt spending cuts, "I would have to see what that is, because I'm strictly against people being punished for the mistakes that were made here," Schwarzenegger said. The governor also said he'd look at a budget containing fee hikes. "It depends what fees we're talking about; like we have increased the fees for colleges and universities, and I don't consider it as a tax. That is a fee," the governor said. Asked about comments by sources that his campaign staff is conducting voter surveys on tax hikes, Schwarzenegger said, "It could easily be that my campaign staff, that is dealing with workers' compensation, that they're throwing that in." Though Schwarzenegger made it clear he won't propose tax hikes, the comments were the strongest indication to date that California's new governor is beginning to soften his anti-tax stance in the face of the state's staggering budget shortfall. The comments came during a series of interviews with the Oakland Tribune and other news organizations, intended to make good on his campaign promise to be accessible to the public. In the first of what he promised would be a continuing series of such interviews,Schwarzenegger also: Indicated that he is open to Indian gambling casinos in urban areas -- such as those under consideration in the Bay Area -- if the cities want them. He also said that negotiations are proceeding well toward obtaining $500 million or more from tribes with casinos next fiscal year. d the details of legislation to grant driver's licenses to illegal immigrants may be impossible to work out. Schwarzenegger campaigned against such a law and presided over its repeal after he was elected but later indicated he'd be open to considering a better-crafted bill. Said he will put a priority on solving the state's electricity-supply worries, which threaten to bloom again into a full-blown crisis, and on transportation infrastructure once California is past the immediate budget crunch. Despite pushing a business-backed measure to reform the workers' compensation system, Schwarzenegger said he has not taken a position on a state law requiring employers to provide health insurance -- a mandate targeted for repeal in November. Schwarzenegger also defended his campaign finance organization as completely open and above board and promised to disclose all donors to any of his political committees. Along with six political action committees, Schwarzenegger has also recently incorporated a private nonprofit corporation to help oversee his fund-raising. While some political watchdogs have characterized the organization as confusing to most voters, the governor said that each committee is necessary to meet state laws. He said there is no intent to hide any contributors. "We don't put any blocks on information," he said. "It's all legitimate. One of the very important directions everyone has on my team is to do everything straightforward, legitimate and open. There's no monkey business." Although he criticized former Gov. Gray Davis for spending too much time raising money, Schwarzenegger is setting a near-record pace. After spending nearly $27 million to win the October recall election, Schwarzenegger has added $11 million since and appears poised to raise millions more before the November election. At one point, Schwarzenegger said that he and legislative leaders are close to an agreement on legislation to reduce skyrocketing workers' compensation insurance costs, and he said he wants both major parties in on the deal. Earlier, Democrats suggested there was a split between the Republican governor and some GOP lawmakers over whether to seek a legislative compromise on workers' compensation or take the issue to the November ballot. "It's extremely important that I have both parties at the negotiating table," Schwarzenegger said. "I am new here. I have my ideas, but I also need the whole history of the problem. The only way I can do it is if I have everyone's input." Schwarzenegger and the Legislature's leaders have been trying for weeks to agree on a bill that would curb employers' high costs of dealing with work-related injuries. The governor has emphasized that he wants a legislative compromise but has warned that if he doesn't get that agreement he'll back an initiative that Democrats have described as harmful to injured workers. He's already given $1 million from one of his campaign accounts to help pay for signature gathering. Wire services contributed to this report. Contact Sacramento Bureau Chief Steve Geissinger at sgeissinger@angnewspapers.com . Advisers polling voters on hikes
State's budget shortfall may force Schwarzenegger to look at increases
Again, my bad "paste" - the "S" was left off ...
He was & he still is.
His position has not changed at all despite the misunderstandings people on this thread have.
Arnold said he was opposed to handing out licenses willy-nilly, but would be in favor if the security issue were worked out. He also said he would try to work that out with the RATs.
He has not "lied" to Mexicans at all. His position is still the same. At one point he thought the RATs would work with him on the security issues. They still may. He is just going hang tough on the security part.
My own suspicion is that the RATs want to encourage voter fraud and Arnold wants to prevent it. Right there is the sticky point.
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