Posted on 06/10/2006 3:58:20 PM PDT by calcowgirl
The resounding defeat of two spending measures on the California ballot provides fresh evidence that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and other supporters of a $37 billion public works bond package will have to make a strong case to voters.
That was the assessment this week of politicians and pundits after voters rejected Propositions 81 and 82.
The Republican governor has hitched his re-election campaign to the building plan. Democratic leaders, including gubernatorial nominee Phil Angelides, also support the plan, as does the California Chamber of Commerce, which led the opposition to Proposition 82.
"I think the lesson to be learned for the fall election is that you can't take voters for granted," said Allan Zaremberg, the chamber's president. "Make sure they're aware, through a campaign of communicating, of the benefits that will be provided to them."
Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, said supporters of the fall bond measures have to do a lot of convincing.
"Voters understand that the bonds do have to be repaid by our children and our grandchildren," Coupal said. "So the days when there was automatic approval of all bonds, I think, is over."
Sen. Tom McClintock, the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, said voters are aware of their high tax burden and the state's debt. McClintock supports only the bond to pay for levee repairs.
"I do applaud the governor for a renewed commitment for public works," McClintock said. "But my concern with the bonds is that much of the money is going for maintenance, equipment and social programs that will be obsolete long before the bonds are paid off."
Mark Baldassare, research director at the Public Policy Institute of California, said the mammoth bond package will face a skeptical public that already turned down a relatively small library bond.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
No, it means that even the blue state of California is more fiscally conservative then a liberal republican.
You may be right. There was one message in the recall election and that was fiscal conservatism. That message won with about 65% of the vote (for Arnold and McClintock combined). Unfortunately, that platform seems to have been abandoned and popularity has consistently sunk since that time.
Selling big-spending and borrowing as some sort of 'moderate platform' defies common sense.
Poll shows voter support for bonds
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/politics/14743596.htm
A solid majority of California voters would approve the multi-million bond measures for flood protection and transportation placed on the November ballot, according to a new statewide poll.
The California Field Poll released today also shows decent support for a $10.4 billion bond to build and refurbish schools, but voters are not warming up to a $2.8 billion bond to build more affordable housing and emergency shelters.
The poll also shows political divisions. All four measures received at least 50 percent support from Democratic voters, but just one-quarter of Republicans like the housing bond, which was pushed by Democrats in the legislature.
Republicans also don't favor the education bond -- 35 percent in favor, 50 percent opposed.
The $4.1 billion flood protection bond and $19.9 billion transportation bond, however, received widespread support from likely voters of both political persuasions. Fifty-eight percent favor the flood protection bond; 57 percent favor the transportation measure.
"A solid majority of California voters would approve the multi-million bond measures..."
Methinks that those voters who support the bond sale do so because they know that by the time the bonds will have to be repaid, they will be retired to Florida anyway.
Actually only the levy and infrastructure bonds are favored with high majority. I think we still need 2/3 majority, to pass bonds, althought they keep trying to get around that.
"Fifty-eight percent favor the flood protection bond; 57 percent favor the transportation measure. "
We do need to fix the roads -- the CA Dem Legislature kept spending the money that was slated for the roads, on everything else.
Percentage of DEMOCRAT Legislators Voting For Bill
Bond Value Assembly Senate
Prop # Bill # Description (Billions) Dem Dem
1a SCA 7 Prop 42 chg n/a 87.5 100.0
1b SB 1266 Transportation $19.925 95.8 100.0
1c SB 1689 Housing $2.850 95.8 100.0
1d AB 127 Schools $10.416 95.8 100.0
1e AB 140 Flood Control $4.090 95.8 100.0
And, to modify a prior quote of yours: It doesn't matter what is your "good intentioned" reason for voting with the Democrats. If you vote
NO YES on the reform Bond propositions, you ARE voting with the Democrats. That's a FACT.
Back to school for you.
It was your statement, Spinmeister!
Will you vote yes on all the bond measures?
What about "Affordable Housing" bonds?
Infrastructure and levee bonds will pass, as they should -- CA is in desperate need of fixing the roads.
The other bonds were put there to appease the Dems, otherwise, they wouldn't have allowed the useful bonds on the ballot.
It's like when you buy meat, you have to pay for the fat and the bone, because they are packaged together.
I think those bonds the next election will be dead in the water and will bring more conservatives out to vote than would have without it.
"Field Polls" and the poll when people actual vote tend to be inconsistent, particularly when the election is still far away. I simply don't think of them as credible.
As a long time Californian, my motto for quite a few years now is, "Vote NO on all bond issues".
"Vote NO on all bond issues".
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That used to be my attitude as well.
I make an exception with the infrastructure bonds, because CA roads are the worst in the nation, literally and keep getting worse.
LOL! You never cease to amaze me, FO.
I hope you're right on that one. The $37 Billion in bonds represents an overall $116 Billion plan over 5 years. There's going to be some BIG money pushing for this (from those feeding at the trough).
The transportation bond isn't about roads and highways--it's pork filled. Be assured the proponents/'stakeholders' are going to go to any lengths to see their payday. And based on the meek comments in this article from Jon Coupal, visible opposition may be weak.
Bond is a TAX
Bond = TAX
Bond = More $$$$$$$ on your property taxes.
That is the education across the nation that is needed regarding taxes.
Pay down the debt with current surplusses. Then place those items in the budget and pay for them as we go. Forget the massive bond measures. Another down-turn in the economy and the state will go belly up.
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