Posted on 05/25/2005 1:40:41 PM PDT by calcowgirl
SACRAMENTO (AP) -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger stepped up his attack on the Democrat-controlled state Legislature Wednesday, chiding lawmakers for getting a pay raise despite the state's ongoing fiscal problems.
"Isn't that interesting?" Schwarzenegger said in a speech to the California Chamber of Commerce. "Instead of giving the people that really need the money -- like education, health care, healthy families, the poor people, the blind people -- instead of giving them more money, the legislators decided they need the money first. So they're taking the money first."
On Monday, an independent state commission granted legislators a 12 percent pay increase, boosting their annual salaries for the first time since 1998. Beginning in December, lawmakers in both houses will see their salaries increase from $99,000 to $110,880 -- the highest compensation in the country for state legislators.
The pay hike came amid forecasts that the state's 2006-2007 budget would carry a shortfall estimated to be at least $5 billion.
The increase cannot be overturned by legislators or the governor, but Schwarzenegger and his aides said lawmakers could turn it down or refuse to accept it. Schwarzenegger, a multimillionaire, does not accept his $175,000 annual salary.
Still, a review of Schwarzenegger's staff salaries by The Associated Press last year showed the Republican governor spends about eight percent more on staff salaries than did his predecessor, Democratic Gov. Gray Davis. He also is paying more salaries of $100,000 or higher within his inner circle than Davis did.
In his speech before about 2,000 state business leaders, Schwarzenegger said he had been willing to consider the idea that legislators deserve a raise after seven years of no increases.
"So I sat down and started thinking about it," he said in a mocking voice, relating how former Gov. Pete Wilson, Davis' predecessor, left the state a surplus. "They have spent all of that money and they went and created a $22 billion debt. And They continue to spend more than we have. And they have chased businesses out of the state and jobs out of the state. They took the economy right down into the toilet and almost made the state go into bankruptcy.
"Yes, they deserve a raise! That's fair!" he said, drawing laughs from the crowd. "Under any normal circumstances, they would be fighting to keep their jobs, and keep their salaries."
By mid-June, Schwarzenegger is expected to call a November special election for voters to consider three measures aimed at reforming state government -- an automatic spending cap, legislative redistricting and a proposal to make it harder for teachers to receive tenure.
Schwarzenegger has cast legislators as the principal antagonists in his reform efforts and said their unwillingness to negotiate had forced him to take his proposals before voters.
Democrats, for their part, have said they would be willing to negotiate with the governor. In a statement released Tuesday, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez called on Schwarzenegger to "clear his schedule" for a meeting with legislative leaders and said he would be willing to do the same.
The pay increase was yet another "data point" in the governor's argument that legislators were not interested in doing their part to reform the state, Schwarzenegger spokesman Vince Sollitto said.
Nunez spokesman Steve Maviglio said Schwarzenegger had failed to named two commissioners to the board that determines state salaries, and that several legislators already have announced they will refuse the pay increase or donate the additional money to nonprofit organizations.
But, Maviglio said, "Not everyone can be a billionaire movie star to serve in public office."
Thomas Dominguez, a member of the commission that approved the salary hike, said the increase was needed so residents who are not wealthy can run for office.
"Taking no action only ensures that the Legislature becomes a place for the rich and famous, and I am not interested in making it or keeping it a place for the rich and famous," Dominguez said.
As with most of his public appearances in recent months, Schwarzenegger was greeted by several dozen noisy protesters outside the downtown convention center. Shortly after he began his speech, a handful of protesters began shouting in the back of the room before being ushered out by police.
Schwarzenegger also stopped by a Sacramento-area charter school Wednesday, telling some 500 middle and high school students that he had boosted state education funding but that reforms were needed to make schools even better.
"If we just threw money at you kids, we wouldn't be doing our job," he said.
The school visit came before a scheduled afternoon rally outside the Capitol in which teachers were expected to criticize the governor's education policies.
We get all of the expert know-it-all drop outs here in Colorado
I oppose most of the people in the legislature. That doesn't mean that the job never deserves a pay raise. They got a 12% raise, after not having any raise since 1998.
Visualize what you would consider to be the perfect legislative candidate. How much would that person deserve to be paid?
The issue is not the pay-raise. The issue is the leftists that have taken control of the legislature.
Funny, throwing taxpayer money at stem-cell research and hydrogen highways is okay with so many.
HUH? Maybe y'all need to get a few facts correct.
California Citizens Compensation CommissionFact Sheet
• The Commission was created in June 1990 through the voter’s passage of Proposition 112. This Proposition also prohibited honoraria and limited gifts for legislators and other elected State officers. It was placed on the ballot by the Legislature.
• The Commission has seven members. All are appointed by the Governor for six-year terms.
My husband has taught in the CSU system for the last 3 years, with no raise, despite the fact that he has taken on a great deal of responsibility (which his predecessor did not) and has been told by his department chair more than once what a terrific job he is doing. No raise for 3 years, and none in sight in the future. I say that as long as professors aren't getting raises, legislators don't "need" them either. Let them figure out how to pay a $500,000 mortgage on $99K a year!
I think it was totally consistent with his social views.
http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/975930/posts
"It is easy to go and say we are going to give you more on this, more on that.
Yeah, of course I want to give away anything and everything, but can we afford it?"
I think the effort to target all teachers, all legislators, all public employees, etc. as the evil-ones is wrong. Everyone deserves to be paid a fair wage for their efforts. People might disagree on what is a "fair wage" is, but the broad-brush demonizing of these groups is not helping resolve the issues.
The poor performers, the liberal activists, etc. need to be weeded from the system. That goes to the education system, the legislators, etc. Those who excel and do a good job should be rewarded.
That's what I said in the first place.
Careful now! You could start a whole new movement with thinking like that!!! (grin)
LOL!!!
Yes... you did. My post was poorly worded. Sorry about that.
My use of "y'all" was meant to be directed at the comment that the legislature was "voting on their own pay raises," which was not your comment.
A common sense movement? Wow... wouldn't that be refreshing! LOL.
If we were awashed in money, helping the poor or cancer patients isn't a horrible deal, I'd sure rather our citizens get it than illegals any day.
If we were awashed in money, then people were overtaxed and should have their hard earned money returned. With additional money in the hands of citizens, the needy would be better served than by a government entity.
We are not a poor coutry and we do not act like one.
You can always expect at least temorary saftey nets in our society.
I'm all for paying off our debts as well.
Yep! We let our government squander money like it was going out of style. Here in CA, we elect some screwball celebrity to the Recalled Governorship, who right off, squanders money we do not have on an assinine Sierra-Nevada CONservancy!!! (whose sole purpose is to stop any improvements to private property in 1/5th of the state!)
Doesn't he just make ya so damn proud?!? (snart!)
But he's a trailblazer! A new one: Product placement for political ads!
Isn't this kinda like selling over-night stays at the Lincoln bedroom? I wonder if we will hear any roars(R)?
http://press.arrivenet.com/pol/article.php/643411.html
Arnold put already 4 billion back and did not spend it.
He has caused democrats and their unions to finance millions out of their war chests to fight him because he is going after their cash flow.
Bottom line, you may not like the guy, but he's kicked lots of butt.
Is he perfect? NO.
Was he both electable and effective compared to a sabotager like McClintock? Yes, 500% so.
>>Arnold put already 4 billion back and did not spend it.
So, not issuing $4 billion in new debt deserves applause?
Great! Congrats on not beating your wife today. /s
You've really worn that tired old tirade out!!! Give it a rest, will ya? No, of course you won't!!!
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