Schwarzenegger, in Washington with governors, defends bond plan

ap on San Diego Union Tribune ^ | 2/26/06 | Erica Werner - ap

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON – Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger used a national television interview Sunday to promote his plan to spend $222 billion on a massive public works building program in California. In Washington for an annual meeting with fellow governors, Schwarzenegger interrupted as Tim Russert, host of NBC's “Meet the Press,” characterized the proposal as “spend, spend, spend.”

“No, it's invest, invest, invest, Tim. You're wrong,” Schwarzenegger said.

“Those people that are criticizing my infrastructure deal and my strategic growth plan are people that are a little bit confused about the difference between spending and investing,” he said.

Some of the people most critical of the plan that would require $68 billion in new borrowing are conservative members of Schwarzenegger's own Republican Party, which was wrapping up a twice-annual state convention Sunday in San Jose, Calif.

Schwarzenegger alluded to the split in his party's ranks when Russert asked him if he'd run for re-election this year as a Bush Republican.

“I will run as an Arnold Republican, which is that I am there to govern and to serve the people of California, meaning Democrats and Republicans, even though there are some on the right wing that are not happy about that, that think I should only govern for Republicans,” Schwarzenegger said.

Two days after declaring a state of emergency for Sacramento's river and delta levees – which could trigger quick new spending to shore up the dangerously fragile barriers – Schwarzenegger reiterated the urgency of the need. He is expected to raise the issue when he and other governors meet with Bush on Monday.

“We can have a worse disaster than New Orleans, so I'm concerned about that, that we are not really doing enough to protect the people,” Schwarzenegger said.

Asked if he was concerned the Iraq war was draining National Guard troops that would be needed to respond to such a catastrophe, Schwarzenegger said he wasn't worried about that. But he said he'd join fellow governors in challenging the Bush administration over the Pentagon's proposed cuts to the guard.

He said he'd also be asking Bush for increased federal spending for a range of California needs, including border security and the cost of jailing illegal immigrants who commit crimes.

Schwarzenegger renewed criticism that California gets back only about 79 cents in services for every dollar it pays in federal taxes – an imbalance that still exists even though Schwarzenegger pledged to fix it when he ran for governor in 2003 as “the Collectinator.”

Schwarzenegger was joining fellow governors later Sunday for a panel on health and fitness, a new focus of the National Governors Association under the leadership of Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who's lost 110 pounds on an exercise plan.

[NormsRevenge]

He kept the red ink flowing.

---

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger pulls on a pipe valve to stop the flow of fake red ink during a news conference at Cal Expo in Sacramento, Calif., in this file photo taken Wedensday, Feb. 23, 2005. Schwarzenegger used the event to call on lawmakers to approve a constitutional amendment that automatically cuts state spending across the board if spending execeeds state revenues. In January, 2006, Schwarzenegger announced his Strategic Growth Plan, a proposal to spend $68 billion for a state infrastructure bond plan. After executing a variety of political cartwheels to the right and left, Schwarzenegger is struggling to re-establish the centrist appeal that helped elect him to office in 2003. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

[lewislynn]

Schwarzenegger, in Washington with governors, defends bond plan

Isn't that exactly what the federal government does and has been doing, like forever?

[Energy Alley]

This clown makes me even more embarrassed to be from California than just about anything else ever has.

Just the sound of his voice is enough to make me ill.

And to think people wanted to change the constitution so he could run for president... ((shudder))

[Alia]

ping!

[FairOpinion]

Thanks for the ping.

I am sorry I missed the interview. Looks like Arnold did very well.

Arnold is right that while the money needs to be borrowed to fix the roads and infrastructure, it is an investment in CA's future. We need good roads to keep the economy going and CA's roads are literally the worst in the nation, they have been so neglected. CA spent the money on other things instead of the roads BEFORE Arnold.


BTW, did you see Jim Robinson's post on another thread?


=====

To: doodlelady; Amerigomag

You are not abusing the forum. Neither is Amerigomag. The primary goal of the forum is to promote conservatism and a return to constitutional government. Different people are going to have different ideas on how to best accomplish this and what or whom may be good for the short term vs the long term. I'd like to see the most conservative candidates as possible promoted and elected, but if that's not doable, then our long term goals are better served by defeating the Marxist Democrats. I do not want to see higher taxes, gay marriage or drivers licenses for illegals, etc. Just my opinion.

131 posted on 02/26/2006 2:17:12 PM PST by Jim Robinson

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1585750/posts?page=131#131

[calcowgirl]

It replays on MSNBC at 10PM

[FairOpinion]

Thanks! I presume you mean 10 pm PST.

[calcowgirl]

Yep, sorry. I figured you were somewhere in Villaraigosa territory based on past elections, lol.

[FairOpinion]

Yes, I am in LA and I did check my TV schedule and confirmed that it's 10 pm PST, i.e. my local time.

Thanks for mentioning it.

[calcowgirl]

Just remember the new mantra:

"It is not spending; it is investing."
"Invest, invest, invest.... build, build, build..."

[FairOpinion]

Investing in the infrastructure IS an investment, you get something for it, unlike money SPENT on social programs, where you get NOTHING for it.

[calcowgirl]

Investing in the infrastructure IS an investment, you get something for it, unlike money SPENT on social programs, where you get NOTHING for it.

Oh, you're doing excellent! You have learned the mantra well, already.

Now, let's look at some numbers for the "Strategic Growth Plan". Arnold wants to spend $222 Billion of which $68 billion comes from bonds and $53 Billion comes from yet-to-be-defined "new funding sources." (My guess is China... or Japan)

According to to Assemblyman Keene, only $13 billion is for traditional infrastructure.

Differences emerge over governor's public works spending plan

(snip)

Assemblyman Rick Keene, R-Chico, said he was concerned the governor's plan would eat up the state's ability to sell other bond proposals for as long as 40 years. He also complained it provided too little in bond funds for transportation, flood control and water storage.

"We've got only $13 billion going into what I think California thinks infrastructure is," he said.

So, what exactly are they proposing to spend all that money on? If not infrastructure, what other "Investments" are being proposed? More land? Parks? Bike lanes?

[Alia]

I found it interesting that Arnold had to explain the difference in investing versus "spending". "Interesting"? Pathetic. However, it strikes me clearly, that Repubs are leading the "dialogue" at all levels of discourse in the US. And that Dems are having to work triple time to play "mirror" strategies in order to give the appearance of being "in tune" with what's going on in this country (and elsewhere).

Thanks for pointing me to Mr. Jim's post. I agree with his opinion, as I'm sure you are aware from my postings on the subject. CA is a far ways from being "over". I think of the many, many lefties in CA who love 3rd world countries, hate America.. but will never move to permanently residing in those countries they claim to cherish. Tells quite the story.

[calcowgirl]

I was going to post a similar article, with the same title, from the San Jose Mercury News. Some of the content is the same, but much is different. Here is one excerpt of note (I'm sure this went over real well!):

(snip)

Later Sunday, while speaking at the governors meeting, he aligned himself with the Democrat perhaps most scorned by Republicans.

"I believe very strongly in what Hillary Clinton said, that it takes a village to raise a child," Schwarzenegger said.

The comment came in a speech in which Schwarzenegger said children should be taught early on to exercise and eat well. The issue is a new focus of the governors group under the leadership of Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who's lost 110 pounds on an exercise plan.

[tubebender]

I see Jim Jones missed a few to invite to his Cool Aide Party...

[Czar]

""I believe very strongly in what Hillary Clinton said, that it takes a village to raise a child," Schwarzenegger said."

Suspicions confirmed.