Governor ready to push package of initiatives

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 1/29/5 | John Wildermuth

[SmithL]

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is threatening to call a special election if Democrats don't back his controversial budget proposals, but it could take an action-hero-like effort to get a package of initiatives qualified for an anticipated Nov. 8 election.

Measures mimicking Schwarzenegger's proposals to change the way California pays its teachers, draws its political boundaries, designs its budget and pays for its workers' retirement already are creeping through the initiative process. But even the popular governor could have problems collecting the hundreds of thousands of signatures needed to qualify the various initiatives by the mid-April deadline.

Schwarzenegger pledged Monday to leap into the initiative battle if the Democrat-controlled Legislature hadn't made significant progress on his budget package by March.

"You will see me at Costcos,'' he said. "You will see me out there at shopping malls as we gather signatures ... making sure we get all those things on the ballot.''

But time already is running short. Most of the Schwarzenegger-friendly initiatives won't be allowed to begin gathering signatures until early March. The secretary of state's office is warning that the 598,105 signatures from voters needed for a state constitutional amendment must be turned in by April 19 to qualify an initiative for a Nov. 8 ballot.

"It's a very tight time frame, but it's doable,'' said Joel Fox, a Schwarzenegger adviser and director of "Citizens to Save California," a group that will raise money to back the initiative drives. "Fifty to 60 days would not set a record.''

But there's a difference between qualifying one initiative for the ballot and organizing a drive for four or more in just a few weeks.

[EricT.]

Ya gotta give Arnold some credit for pushing the CA Duma around like the little girlie-men they are.

[starfish923]

The San Francisco Chronicle is right out there with the L. A. Times, Boston Globe and the New York Times in its leftist ideology.
NOTHING Schwarzenegger does is going to be right. Nothing he says is right. He is condemned because he is a Republican. End of story.

I haven't believed this rag for years. No reason to start now.

[starfish923]

Ya gotta give Arnold some credit for pushing the CA Duma around like the little girlie-men they are.

Lol. I do.
It is SO refreshing. He calls'em like he sees'em.
A few months ago he vetoed a ton of bills saying that they were "silly bills." Hahahahaha. Only HE can get away with it and I love it.