Associated Press/Damian Dovarganes
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger starts his budget-promoting trip Friday at a Long Beach eatery, greeting Richard Hanes.
Governor on foes' turf
He presses vulnerable districts Laura Mecoy and Alexa H. Bluth
LONG BEACH - Taking the budget battle to a hotly contested Assembly district Friday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vowed to "do anything to unseat" lawmakers who fight his spending plan.
"I will make sure that we have a Legislature in the fall that will be more cooperative," he told reporters after urging diners at a downtown Long Beach restaurant to contact their legislators.
"Tell them to stop stalling with the budget and pass my responsible budget," the Republican governor told diners at the California Pizza Kitchen.
Friday was the first step in a three-day campaign to put pressure on vulnerable Democrats facing tough election battles. And though Democrats said they are unswayed by the governor's tactics, the campaign trip is the first sign that Schwarzenegger is setting up a fall sequel to last year's recall, which prevailed in 26 legislative districts held by Democrats.
Arnold has all of the leverage here.If the Dems pass his budget, he wins.
If the Dems deadlock and pass no budget, then he wins (spending can't go up without a budget).
He's got the full and the line item veto, too.
Moreover, the Dems don't have enough votes to override his potential vetos.
Thus, regardless of what the clueless press claims, Arnold holds *all* of the cards here. It is inevitable that he will win yet again.
Inevitable.
10 Legislative Days Left Until The AWB Expires