Posted on 07/19/2004 5:18:20 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO (AP) - In a sure sign the summer's budget brouhaha is frothing over, the Capitol's leading Democrat said Monday that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger can start looking for a new cappuccino pal. Senate President Pro Temp John Burton, D-San Francisco, said he was steamed with remarks the Republican governor made over the weekend accusing Democrats of holding up the budget and acting like "girlie men" for not standing up to special interests.
With more than manhood on the line, Burton said the remarks could set the budget process back another two weeks because of reaction within the Legislature's Democratic majority and key interest groups.
The friendship between Burton and Schwarzenegger has been key to new bipartisan cooperation that captured the Capitol after the governor took office in November. The liberal senior senator has helped cultivate the relationship with freshly brewed European coffee he sometimes delivers to private meetings with governor.
Not any more.
In a move that appeared only half in jest, Burton stuck a handwritten note on his espresso machine saying "Closed until further notice."
"I was a little bit worried about whether Arnold thought he was elected God or elected governor," said Burton. "The governor talks to us one day about working together and together we can get this done and then another day going out and insulting our masculinity."
The budget, now 19 days overdue, has been held up over differences on three points - local government funding and the repeal of two labor laws.
The governor and his Republican colleagues want to get rid of a law that restricts contracting out services at public schools and another that lets workers sue employers to enforce labor laws.
Although budget negotiators said late last week that they believed they were close to a compromise, the talks broke down amid partisan rhetoric and finger pointing.
Schwarzenegger held public rallies over the weekend accusing Democrats of refusing to compromise. At a mall in Ontario, Schwarzenegger said Democrats were catering to special interests.
"If they don't have the guts to come up here in front of you and say, 'I don't want to represent you, I want to represent those special interests, the unions, the trial lawyers ...,' if they don't have the guts, I call them girlie men," the governor said.
Margita Thompson, Schwarzenegger's spokeswoman, said that the governor would not apologize for the remark, a reference to a "Saturday Night Live" skit that spoofed the governor's days as a bodybuilder - long before he turned to politics.
She said Monday that there remains a "framework" of a budget agreement with Democrats and that Schwarzenegger is ready to renew talks at any time - including with Burton.
Assembly Republican leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield, said the governor's remarks Saturday "showed a great deal of leadership" because they highlighted the fundamental difference between the two parties over spending. "Democrats want to spend more, that's the issue," he said.
As fallout from the governor's comments continued, a Senate committee considered a constitutional amendment aimed at permanently protecting local government tax money from the Legislature.
While there is agreement that local tax money should be kept local, there is no agreement on how best to protect cities and counties from future state raids.
Burton also noted that Democrats have a budget bill reflecting almost all the agreements that have been reached since May with the administration - except for the local funding and labor laws. He said the Senate could vote on the Democratic version Wednesday.
Thompson said there is no agreement until all the issues have been settled.
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On the Net
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger: http://www.governor.ca.gov/state/govsite/gov-homepage.jsp
California Senate: http://www.sen.ca.gov/
California Assembly: http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/defaulttext.asp
"We're not girlie-men and we're going to pout until we get an apology"
I don't think the dems there can recover from such a humiliation. Arnold went over the heads of the dems and the media, and he gained the sympathy of the California voters, who will want nothing to do with weaklings such as the dems. The dems will find it hard to regain whatever respect they had prior to Arnold's insult against them.
FREEP THIS POLL: On RIGHT side of screen.
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/index.html
Last time I looked,, 80% said Arnold should NOT APOLOGIZE!
In my mind i think of backroom negotiations between Ahnold and a demorat consisting of a headlock and a girlie voice whimpering the word "uncle'.
It's a huge story because he attacked the Unions and the Trial Lawyers. The fact that the 'Rats and their poodles in the media reacted so strongly shows that he got to them.
Just wait until the convention. Ah-Nold will deliver a very powerful speech. Then they'll really scream!
To any Ah-nold haters out there, all I can say is that I'm glad he's on our side!
YUP. I wasn't for him winning the Governors seat, but at least he makes it fun. From out here in Texas, I just hope he'll campaign for Bush.
What gets me is they are more worried about what he's saying about them rather than obeying the law by having a budget in place on 7/1.
Norm, I'm going off here on "Burton"... Excuse me, John Burton! YOU as SAG did NOT do your job when it came to the issue of "gay marriages" in SF. Nor have you done your job in past matters on issues of which YOU personally disagreed. John Burton is indeed a Girlie Man Democrat. What would the oh-so-friendly John Burton say now with regard to all the gerrymandering he's DONE IN THE STATE OF CA for HOW MANY YEARS? (done shouting; thanks, Norm! ) :) Would he suggest the "java" made him do these certainly unethical things? And wasn't it John Burton recently heard in a coffeehouse LYING about what he told listeners in re "Arnold told me he's not running again"? And wasn't it supposed to have been a "private confidence" (if indeed Gov Arnold said this?). Who needs friends and bi-partisan friends in particular, like John Burton. (I wasn't done ranting. Sorry Norm)
So they react to it by throwing a girly-man hissy-fit tantrum?
Wow.
Now that's effective.....:)
The first thing I thought was, "give 'em hell Arnold". I'm glad Arnold said to vote these "girlie men" out of office.
This one begs for the New Seal of the Deomcratic Party!
I realize the people Schwarzeneggar called 'girlie men' didn't like it very much. Did they ever happen to deny it?
{At the GOP Convention}
Good evening, delegates. I am Ahnold Schwarzeneggar, Governor of Kaleeforniah...
And I am here to --- PAHMP YOU UP!
If someone called me a "girlie man", I would not consider it a homophobic remark UNLESS I WERE IN FACT A HOMOSEXUAL. What are these CA legislators telling us?
I think Arnold is the only one who could say, "OK, the state doesn't have a budget...I'm shutting the government down," and get away with it. That would be something!
Local TV news reported the "girlie man" remark over and over. Commentators said it was a "sexist and homophobic" remark.
(I want a bumper sticker)
79% no.
Could have been worse, he could have called them socialist girlie men. I prefer menstrual males myself.
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