Posted on 09/23/2005 4:17:49 PM PDT by SmithL
SACRAMENTO -- Removing any chance of a surprise endorsement in the upcoming special election, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced Friday his support for measures restricting teen abortion and creating a voluntary program for drug discounts backed by the pharmaceutical industry.
The governor is also opposing an initiative aimed at regulating the energy system.
The announcement comes as his campaign team begins rolling out its array of TV ads statewide and on the heels of his announcement last week that he's running for re-election. Observers said Schwarzenegger is looking to rally his Republican base in hopes of getting a big turnout on Nov. 8.
"Core supporters will take this a cue, particularly Republicans who have not been paying close attention," said Jack Pitney, government professor at Claremont McKenna College. "And a lot will depend on whether Republicans can follow through in the ground game."
Schwarzenegger called the special election initially to get voters to approve three measures he helped qualify for the ballot: Proposition 74, which would lengthen the probationary period for public school teachers; Proposition 76, which would impose new spending controls on the state; and Proposition 77, which would give control over drawing legislative and Congressional districts to a panel of retired judges.
Last weekend, Schwarzenegger added his support to Proposition 75, which will require unions to obtain permission from members before dues can be used for political purposes.
Now the governor has also endorsed Proposition 73, which require doctors to give parents or guardians written notice 48 hours before performing an abortion on a minor.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
The passage of the re-districting and paycheck protection initiatives are necessary to stop CA from its death spiral. It will take more but, if we don't pass these, this place will descend into a basket case like Louisiana.
I'm in favor of all these propositions by the Governator. Maybe Arnold is a Republican after all and maybe the Golden State can be saved. Go Arnold!
I thought California was already a basket case... :-)
I would love to think so, but he's got a long way to go.
He is a *moderate* republican. hehehehehe....
On these initiatives, he is DEAD ON. So, I support him.
I wish he sides a lot more with the true conservatives like Tom.
"I thought California was already a basket case... :-)"
Yeah, a lot of truth to that, especially the legislature. But you noticed I compared to Louisiana --grin--(no offense to LA freepers but they have even more work to do than we do)
Tom supports all of his initiatives.
Sticks up for the Minutemen, goes after the Public Employee extortion racket, won't sign the Queers Got Marriage bill, won't sign the Illegals Got Licenses bill, wants the docs to tell the parents before they rip the future grandchild out of her body.
Not bad. Not bad at all.
RE: Prop. 77, I was thinking today the press would have a field day criticizing the type of Democracy we have in California today, where the politicians pick the voters, not the other way around....IF that democracy was proposed for IRAQ!!
Unfortunately, I doubt any of them will pass.
Some party insiders predicted Schwarzenegger would generate even more fervor among activists by endorsing Proposition 73, the initiative requiring parental consent for teens to obtain an abortion."That is one of our secret weapons," California Republican Party Chairman Duf Sundheim said. "People feel very passionately about that."
Sundheim and others said the initiative will increase voter turnout among abortion rights foes, who would be likely to support the measures the governor has endorsed.
For both sides, turnout is the key to victory in an off-election year. There are no candidates on the ballot to get voters excited.
Just great--more subsidies.
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