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Whatever Became of the Gubernator?
ReasonOnline ^ | October 31, 2005 | Matt Welch

Posted on 10/31/2005 7:29:10 PM PST by calcowgirl

California's reformer-in-chief looked a lot better in the previews

For an action-hero politician who likes to taunt "girlie-men," Arnold Schwarzenegger sure turned out to be a wuss.

Two years after sweeping into office with promises to "blow up boxes," perform "the Miracle of Sacramento," and "not rest until our fiscal house is in order," California's Milton Friedman–quoting governor is wasting our time with a special election that does little more than tweak his unionized political tormentors and tinker at the margins of mis-governance, while the state's fiscal house maintains its disorder of $6 billion budget deficits.

The governor is tramping across the state visiting '70s House Parties to manufacture enthusiasm for his four "reform" ballot initiatives:

• Proposition 74 would make public schoolteachers easier to fire, while extending their pre-tenure period from two to five years.

• 75 would force public-sector unions to obtain written approval from each individual member once a year before spending his or her dues on political campaigns.

• 76 is one of approximately 12 bazillion recent California ballot initiatives, many of them (like last year's Propositions 57 and 58) already enshrined in the state Constitution, that promise to "control spending to end state deficits," and/or "stabilize education funding to make sure our public schools are getting the money they need." (And yes, 76 promises both.)

• And Proposition 77, the only one that hints at fundamental state reform, would replace political gerrymandering with a three-judge panel which will, we hope, draw up coherent and competitive political districts.

Californians did not fire the loathsome Gray Davis because of his policies on teacher compensation. They fired him because he grew an already bloated and inefficient government to epic proportions, creating what was widely seen as a "structural" budget deficit of $8 billion a year (while the actual deficit ballooned to more than $30 billion). Schwarzenegger's been blowing up his boxes for two years now, including an important overhaul of the worker's compensation system, and all we've saved is a lousy $2 billion? It would seem that something more radical is required.

That's where the California Performance Review was supposed to kick in. A governor-appointed advisory body to recommend the mass elimination of governor-appointed advisory boards ("320 unnecessary or duplicative boards, commissions, task forces, and other appointed bodies," to be exact).

"The performance review proposed a top-to-bottom reorganization of government, eliminating more than 1,100 political appointees, and recommended more than 1,400 policy reforms to improve and streamline how government operates," Reason Foundation Senior Fellow George Passantino, who worked on the California Performance Review, wrote in August. "The plan was so ambitious that conventional wisdom said a special election would be needed to enact many of the reforms. As months passed, talk of a special election grew but the governor's focus shifted to other reforms."

The Performance Review Board's recommendations amounted to $32 billion in savings over five years; $4 billion alone for selling off such why-do-they-own-those assets as golf courses and beach houses. And the board-cutting, "reinventing government" stuff isn't just pie-in-the-sky libertarianism—to pluck one example at random, California has an elected Superintendent of Education (Jack O'Connell), but the governor also appoints a Secretary of Education (Alan Bersin; used to be Richard Riordan). How does the Superintendent differ from the Secretary? Beats the hell out of me, but I pay both their salaries, and those of their extended staffs.

California's full of such governmental nonsense, where inefficiency is matched only by cronyism and lack of transparency. "There are still more than 220 boards and commissions in the executive branch with little accountability to the public," Passantino wrote. "Some of the most egregious boards, such as the Integrated Waste Management Board, still pay more than $100,000 to their politically appointed members."

Schwarzenegger had a once-in-a-generation mandate to do something about such dysfunction now, but chose instead to dust off "Paycheck Protection" from the Pete Wilson playbook. If the governor really wanted to do something about public sector employees, the best place to start would be by eliminating the one thousand-plus he's hired to do God knows what.

Instead, we get some tangential ballot measures, phony photo ops, bully-pulpit breath wasted on the chimera of businesses leaving California, and targeted state assistance to industries with clout.

"I did not seek this office," Schwarzenegger insisted in his inaugural address, "to do things the way they've always been done." It makes you wonder what he was seeking to do.

Associate Editor Matt Welch writes from Los Angeles. His work is archived atmattwelch.com, where he also blogs.


TOPICS: Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: arnoldlegacy; boxes; calpropositions; calreform; cpr; gubernator; miltonfriedman; reason; schwarzenegger; specialelection
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1 posted on 10/31/2005 7:29:10 PM PST by calcowgirl
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To: calcowgirl

BimP


2 posted on 10/31/2005 7:38:17 PM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Monthly Donor spoken Here. Go to ... https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: calcowgirl

---maybe he took too much advice from his wife---


3 posted on 10/31/2005 7:41:18 PM PST by rellimpank (urbanites don' t understand the cultural deprivation of not being raised on a farm:NRABenefactor)
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To: calcowgirl

Reason magazine is a well known libertarian publication. Like CATO they believe in fiscal responsibility and can spot a big government liberal like GovSchwarzy a mile away.


4 posted on 10/31/2005 7:41:29 PM PST by Reagan Man (Secure our borders;punish employers who hire illegals;stop all welfare to illegals)
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To: calcowgirl
The Grovelnator was always a poseur, whose prime objective was pleasing those who promised him even greater rewards.

And please them he has done.

All he had to do to get elected was tell the public what they wanted to hear and their money would do the rest. So, he did. Wall Street is very happy, at California's expense.

5 posted on 10/31/2005 7:52:31 PM PST by Carry_Okie (There are people in power who are truly evil.)
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To: Carry_Okie

Arnold can do little as long as the CA Leg is wholely owned Demo. A 2002 election didn't replace one of them. The Props are intended to change the status quo so something can happen contrary to Demo wishes. Unions ARE special interest. Districts were redrawn for self interests and insured Republicans will never get more seats. Help Arnold govern - pass the Props.


6 posted on 10/31/2005 8:02:02 PM PST by pacpam (action=consequence applies in all cases)
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To: pacpam
Arnold can do little as long as the CA Leg is wholely owned Demo.

Hogwash. He submitted budgets that increased spending faster than Davis did. Arnold was under no obligation to do that.

The Props are intended to change the status quo so something can happen contrary to Demo wishes.

That's what you were told to think. Do you realize that it is likely to reduce the size of the California Republican Congressional Delegation?

Unions ARE special interest.

Duh.

Districts were redrawn for self interests and insured Republicans will never get more seats.

See above.

Help Arnold govern - pass the Props.

Arnold's objectives are not mine. He is a liberal statist. I am voting for 73, 74, 75, and no on the rest.

7 posted on 10/31/2005 8:05:41 PM PST by Carry_Okie (There are people in power who are truly evil.)
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To: pacpam
"Help Arnold govern - pass the Props"

===

Exactly. Look who are supporting them and who are opposing them:

THE CA PROPOSITIONS; Democratic and Republican activists discuss the propositions
Dean urges voters to reject measures governor supports [California]
Davis opposes Schwarzenegger's reform initiatives
CA: Feinstein to oppose Schwarzenegger's special election initiatives
John Alden (Marin cnty Dem Party chairman): Vote no on Prop 76 - we need better leaders
Top Democratic leaders at Penmar Park rally to 'swat' governor's special election measures. Key note speaker: Angelides, Dem candidate for governor
McClintock's recommendations for CA Propositions
Summary of Recommendations on the CA Propositions by various organizations and parties
CA: McClintock stumps for governor's ballot initiatives
Ad watch: McClintock in radio spot supporting Prop. 76 (includes actual text)
Supporters of the CA Propositions 74-77 include CA Club for Growth, Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association, Ray Haynes, San Fernando Valley Town Hall Conservatives, Republican Party, and many others. Click on the link for a more comprehensive list.
And you can see from links above who are the ones opposing them: Democrats, Unions, Gray Davis, Howard Dean, various Dem party chairmen, etc.

8 posted on 10/31/2005 8:12:49 PM PST by FairOpinion (CA Props: Vote for Reform: YES on 73-78, NO on 79 & 80, NO on Y)
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To: pacpam

>>The Props are intended to change the status quo so something can happen contrary to Demo wishes.

The propositions cannot be bundled up into one package and labeled as anti-dem. In fact, Prop 77 is bankrolled by Dems and Rinos.

Proposition 76 will reinforce higher spending, authorizes more debt and defers more expense. It will only "help him govern" by giving him yet more taxpayer dollars to support his social programs.

YES on 73, 74 and 75!


9 posted on 10/31/2005 8:26:25 PM PST by calcowgirl (CA Special Election: Yes, Yes, Yes, No, No, No, No, No!)
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To: calcowgirl

" In fact, Prop 77 is bankrolled by Dems "


===

PROOF???????????


10 posted on 10/31/2005 8:29:44 PM PST by FairOpinion (CA Props: Vote for Reform: YES on 73-78, NO on 79 & 80, NO on Y)
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To: FairOpinion

Reed Hastings, John Doerr, Eli Broad.... and RINO Poizner himself (among others).

Look it up yourself. There is quite a gaggle of them:
http://cal-access.ss.ca.gov/Campaign/Committees/Detail.aspx?id=1279790&session=2005&view=received

And Arnold has joined with the Dems and Unions in backing Ohio's Issue 4 (Redistricting), an initiative opposed by Ohio Republicans.

If you read my post yesterday (TO YOU), I wouldn't have to go through this all again.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1511120/posts?page=43#43


11 posted on 10/31/2005 8:50:35 PM PST by calcowgirl (CA Special Election: Yes, Yes, Yes, No, No, No, No, No!)
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To: calcowgirl
So how come the Dem party, prominent Democrats, including Moveon.org is fighting AGAINST ALL of Arnold's propositions?

====

THE CA PROPOSITIONS; Democratic and Republican activists discuss the propositions
Dean urges voters to reject measures governor supports [California]
Davis opposes Schwarzenegger's reform initiatives
CA: Feinstein to oppose Schwarzenegger's special election initiatives
John Alden (Marin cnty Dem Party chairman): Vote no on Prop 76 - we need better leaders
Top Democratic leaders at Penmar Park rally to 'swat' governor's special election measures. Key note speaker: Angelides, Dem candidate for governor
Liberal groups (Moveon.org) try to link special election to broader GOP agenda
McClintock's recommendations for CA Propositions
Summary of Recommendations on the CA Propositions by various organizations and parties
CA: McClintock stumps for governor's ballot initiatives
Ad watch: McClintock in radio spot supporting Prop. 76 (includes actual text)
Supporters of the CA Propositions 74-77 include CA Club for Growth, Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association, Ray Haynes, San Fernando Valley Town Hall Conservatives, Republican Party, and many others. Click on the link for a more comprehensive list.
And you can see from links above who are the ones opposing them: Democrats, Unions, Gray Davis, Howard Dean, various Dem party chairmen, even MoveOn.org,etc.

12 posted on 10/31/2005 8:57:06 PM PST by FairOpinion (CA Props: Vote for Reform: YES on 73-78, NO on 79 & 80, NO on Y)
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To: calcowgirl

Whether or not the redistricting propositions passes or not to try improve representation in districts that are allowed by federal censes to count illegal immigrants to determine the number of state legislators, at least the legal citizens still can be fairly represented in their voters for state offices and the propositions,

Because Arnold stopped illegal immigrant drivers licenses, so things are better off, why, well reading the license application one will find a question that asks to register to vote, so had the illegal immigrant licensee have gone thru under Davis, there would have been 5 million new voters who would be allowed to vote both in Mexican elections and US elections, leaving the legal citizens of the US disenfranchised and without any equal representation the territory of northern Mexico formally known as Kalifornia.


13 posted on 10/31/2005 9:07:16 PM PST by seastay
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To: calcowgirl

CA politics is in the tank...hopeless,deadlocked. both sides have shot their shots and nobody cares because it all comes off as expensive lies. Campaign spots are slick,well financed... and confusing... with all sides calling each other liars.
Is a "Yes " vote a yes? Or a "no"? This could be a stinker of an election.


14 posted on 10/31/2005 9:08:09 PM PST by CBart95
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To: CBart95
It is very easy to get "un-confused", just see who is supporting which side.

See my links in post 12, then add to it, that Moveon.org is going to start running ads AGAINST the propositions, and Angelides, the Dem candidate for governor just wrote an open letter, urging people to vote NO.

Open letter from Phil Angelides (opposing Schwarzenegger and the Propositions)

"On November 8th, Californians can put a stop to what Schwarzenegger started by joining Senator Barbara Boxer, Senator Dianne Feinstein and me in voting NO on Propositions 73 – 77 and defeating the governor’s attempt to bring the Bush agenda to California. Then we can unite to put California back on the path to hope and prosperity.
Phil Angelides "

Liberal groups (MOveon.org) try to link special election to broader GOP agenda

"A spinoff group from the liberal political advocacy organization Moveon.org is seeking to link Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's special election initiatives with President Bush and a national Republican agenda.

Its television commercial is scheduled to begin airing Tuesday on CNN in major media markets.

Moveon.org's presence in the special election marks a rare appearance by a prominent national group in what has been a largely California-centered campaign."

15 posted on 10/31/2005 9:25:05 PM PST by FairOpinion (CA Props: Vote for Reform: YES on 73-78, NO on 79 & 80, NO on Y)
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To: FairOpinion

Did you check the link? Did you see the dollar amounts? Do your homework. If I want Party talking points, I can watch the TV ads.

Moveon.org is donating $75,000. That will run how many ads, exactly? By comparison, John Doerr (DEM) and Reed Hastings (DEM) have donated 10 times that amount, alone.

Please quit spamming threads multiple times with all the same links. It is obnoxious.


16 posted on 10/31/2005 9:28:42 PM PST by calcowgirl (CA Special Election: Yes, Yes, Yes, No, No, No, No, No!)
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To: Carry_Okie

No one tells me what to think. I listened to Doolittle argue voting against 77. He's full of it. When the redraw assigned the coastline from Monterey to past Ventura to Capps -Demo - one mile in, it was clear the redraw was anti-capitalism, anti citizen, anti private property, etc. When you guarantee locked seats, you ensure only for yourself and to hell with the rest of the poor conservative slobs in Demo strongholds. I'll take the risk of change.


17 posted on 10/31/2005 9:39:10 PM PST by pacpam (action=consequence applies in all cases)
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To: calcowgirl

Reed Hastings, et.al gave non-monetary donations. Any idea what exactly they did to have that kind of cash value donation?


18 posted on 10/31/2005 9:51:04 PM PST by pacpam (action=consequence applies in all cases)
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To: pacpam
When you guarantee locked seats, you ensure only for yourself and to hell with the rest of the poor conservative slobs in Demo strongholds. I'll take the risk of change.

It can always get worse. Maybe some day you'll get it. A government of "centrists" (which is the likely result of 77) is the most resistive to change or accountability, but the corporate and union crooks who pay for it will like it just fine.

19 posted on 10/31/2005 10:05:41 PM PST by Carry_Okie (There are people in power who are truly evil.)
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To: pacpam
Reed Hastings, et.al gave non-monetary donations. Any idea what exactly they did to have that kind of cash value donation?

Pre-paid advertising? Web hosting? Fair Opinion's salary, perhaps?

20 posted on 10/31/2005 10:08:39 PM PST by calcowgirl (CA Special Election: Yes, Yes, Yes, No, No, No, No, No!)
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