Posted on 03/16/2005 8:48:25 AM PST by NormsRevenge
Fresh off a successful November election in which voters largely rubber-stamped his initiative agenda, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger could be forgiven for thinking governing via the ballot this year would be less difficult than fighting it out with a stubborn state Legislature.
But as crunch time nears for qualifying measures for a special election ballot this year, the governor is finding that taking his policy agenda "to the people" is easier said than done.
In recent weeks, each of the four "reforms" the governor has said he wanted to enact this year has run into difficulties:
* Merit pay for teachers - A committee set up to mount campaigns for the initiatives initially opted not to promote this proposal, saying it went with an alternative that members believed had a better "chance of passing." The governor was unhappy with that assessment, and the committee is reconsidering.
* Spending control for state government - The committee has also struggled for weeks to decide on a spending control measure to circulate to voters. It is expected to do so today, but now will have just 30 days or so under Schwarzenegger's timetable to secure enough signatures to qualify the measure it selects, ...
* A 401(k)-style pension system for government workers - Schwarzenegger, of course, has already run into trouble with police and firefighters over his pension proposal, which doesn't spell out how death and disability payments would be handled under a new state system.
--snip--
* Using a panel of retired judges to draw state legislative and congressional district lines - Some experts are now convinced that the governor will be unable to succeed in seeing legislative district lines redrawn for the 2006 elections even if he persuades voters to set up a new process in November.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
Teachers need a big pay cut.
>>Spending control for state government - The committee has also struggled for weeks to decide on a spending control measure to circulate to voters. It is expected to do so today...
It really shouldn't be a struggle. I hope he does the right thing.
While these measures need to be enacted, they don't go nearly as far as what needs to be done. Its like a band-aide on a amputation.
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