Housing bond measure not a hot topic for governor (Schwarzenegger, CA)

CCT ^ | June 25, 2006 | Andy Furillo

[FairOpinion]

Build highways, freeways and mass transit, he said, "so you don't get stuck in traffic all the time." Expand universities, build new classrooms and modernize old ones "so that our kids have the best place to go." Strengthen the state's levee system "to protect the people of California from a major disaster."

But in his stem-winder on the banks of the Sacramento River, the governor mentioned nothing about the housing bond, a key component that helped him win votes from Democratic legislators for the bond package he has touted as a bipartisan triumph.

Housing bond supporters such as Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, say Schwarzenegger's support for the measure is going to be crucial toward its success or failure at the polls this fall, especially among skeptical Republican voters.

In November, the infrastructure items will be grouped together as a package on the ballot. Still, voters will be able to pick and choose among the bonds individually, supporting the ones they like and opposing those they don't.

The measures will be marked on the ballot as Propositions 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D and 1E (including a fifth and separate transportation funding measure).

As of the final pre-primary Field Poll released June 5, the housing bond -- Prop. 1C -- was faring the worst, with only 39 percent support.

[FairOpinion]

The subtle message is that infrastructure bond for trasportation and rebuilding levees is important, school bond is OK -- you've got to support it "for the children", but the housing bond in "on its own", it was included to placate the Dems, who otherwise wouldn't have let Arnold have the infrastructure bonds.

Did you know Arnold is a chessplayer?

Let the voters decide on the bonds, but he is making it pretty clear what is really important for CA.

[rottndog]

I wonder who the primary beneficiaries of the housing bond will be?

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

I wonder who the primary beneficiaries of the housing bond will be?

Liberal elitist snobs
CA Dim/RINO politicians beating their chest thinking they accomplished something
Poor minorities, illegal alien families
Illegal aliens again salivating at new construction work
Entrenched CA teacher's unions and public sector workers

Losers will be middle-class taxpayers, as usual.

[KellyAdmirer]

It's funny how everyone in California wants to spend tons of money, but only for what concerns them. Money they don't have, that they have to borrow. In fact, right on this forum yesterday, there were people upset because Arnold wouldn't pay to send California Guard troops to patrol the federal border in other states. But I'm sure they will jump up and whine about bonds like this.

The problem in California is that everyone - including the conservatives - sees limited taxpayer money as this bottomless pit, a panacea to whatever concerns them. There sure is a lot wrong there.

[rottndog]

I don't know what conservatives in California you are referring to. Everyone I know can't stand Arnold, and are utterly repulsed at the level of spending and the overall direction of the state government.

With respect to the National Guard, this goes right to the heart of the reason we have any government at all--defending our citizens. The purpose of government is to protect it's citizens, from threats both internally and externally. I can't think of a more appropriate use of taxpayers dollars than to try to stop an ongoing invasion by a neighboring country that is hostile to the U.S. This is called prioritizing, and it is something government (especially in California) has lost the ability to do.

BTW, please be careful about denigrating us California conservatives (the few that are left). We are fighting the good fight, but if we fail you can count on the ills that plague our state coming to a state near you (yes, even to Colorado).

[Amerigomag]

It's funny how everyone in California wants to spend tons of money,

Corrected: It's funny how liberals in California wants to spend tons of money,

The 3 top liberals: Schwarzenegger. Nunez and Perata. Between these three, liberal clowns California is increasing spending at > 10% each year and Schwarzenegger has been increasing taxes at the fastest clip in 5 years.

[calcowgirl]

It's funny how everyone in California wants to spend tons of money, but only for what concerns them. Money they don't have, that they have to borrow. In fact, right on this forum yesterday, there were people upset because Arnold wouldn't pay to send California Guard troops to patrol the federal border in other states.

You're kidding, right? You don't see just a slight difference between the federal government, performing a legitimate role of government (i.e. law enforcement and defending our borders) and spending money to provide housing for farmworkers?

BTW, the federal government is paying for all of the National Guard troops being sent to the border in "Operation Jumpstart" Payment was not the issue.

But I'm sure they will jump up and whine about bonds like this.

As all Conservatives and Republicans should. JUST SAY NO

The problem in California is that everyone - including the conservatives - sees limited taxpayer money as this bottomless pit, a panacea to whatever concerns them. There sure is a lot wrong there.

The problem with liberals and RINOs is they see no difference between legitimate roles of Government and non-legitimate roles.

[calcowgirl]

school bond is OK -- you've got to support it "for the children"...

NO. I don't.

The schoold bonds are a pork filled, misdirected program, as are ALL of the bonds.
Even the flood/levee protection is filled with a bunch of special interest payoffs and environmental nonsense.

[rottndog]

The school bonds are a pork filled, misdirected program, as are ALL of the bonds.

The dirty little secret of the bond process in CA, is that once a bond is passed, under the law the money HAS to be spent, whether it is spent wisely or not. The result is that the authors of these bond measures deliberately overestimate the amount of money needed for the stated purpose of the bond, so that there are tens of millions of dollars available for misspending (read: political graft). The whole process needs to be scrapped.

[calcowgirl]

IMO, the way many of these bond measures are written, they are not limited to "infrastructure" (which is actually a small part of the total) and allow for funds to be used by various Government departments. That provides a slush fund to supplement revenues for big government spending--ultimately using bond funds to cover the continuted deficit spending.

[goldstategop]

Housing bond? Coupled with the parcel tax, there's something about confiscating taxpayers' money to build a home for someone else that doesn't sit well with me. Both deserve a big fat thumbs down in November.

(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")

[newzjunkey]

Schwarzenegger has been increasing taxes at the fastest clip in 5 years.

Tax receipts are up on a strengthening economy. That's not the same as "increasing taxes..."

[newzjunkey]

Arnold already has agreed to deploy 1000 National Guard to the CA border. 250 are already there and have been for years doing construction work. It's not our burden to pay for. The border is a federal issue and so he demanded the Feds supply the funding. He did refuse to add another 1500 on top of that 1000. Since fire season just began, they may be needed elsewhere.

The Guard deployment is just a rouse to get folks to think W is "getting tough" on the border so he can get his amnesty bill through the House. Arnold's not falling for it.

Spending is too high but unfortunately a lot of that spending is mandated. Tax receipts are up on a good economy and Arnold wants to apply that to debt payments while your liberal pals want to spend it! The overall direction of CA is better than it was, better than it would be under Angelides. In November, that's the KEY question. We need to get Arnold reelected and help him bring back a policy of REFORM with his new political capital.

[newzjunkey]

Transportation building & levees repair make sense as bonds since it's something that will benefit generations.

We could tax at a rate of 100% with the only service being public education and the schools would still be CRAP. Reelect Arnold in November and work hard to take on the unions like we tried in 2005.

[newzjunkey]

Even the flood/levee protection is filled with a bunch of special interest payoffs and environmental nonsense.

Sounds like you'd never vote for anything. You really are one of those who Rush warns doesn't see "perfection is the *enemy* of the good."

McClintock is in favor of the flood/levee protection bond, although I think he's opposed to the others.

[rottndog]

The Guard deployment is just a rouse to get folks to think W is "getting tough" on the border so he can get his amnesty bill through the House. Arnold's not falling for it.

No argument there--your point is spot on!

The overall direction of CA is better than it was, better than it would be under Angelides.

Yes, but the overall direction of California is still into the gutter. Spending is still increasing faster that revenue under Arnold, and while much of that is out of his control, much of it his responsibility. Saying Arnold sucks less than the other guy doesn't mean Arnold doesn't suck. And, his cozy demeanor with Antonio Villalaraza is rather troublesome, to say the least.

The cynic in me is still saying that Arnold ran to keep Tom McClintock out, and the alarmist in me is saying that Arnold is lining Villalaraza up to keep McClintock out. While he may be better than Gray Davis and Phil Angelides, that really isn't saying much.

I will try to be optimistic, though, since that's really all I have left.

[calcowgirl]

Transportation building & levees repair make sense as bonds since it's something that will benefit generations.

If it was really building something, you might be right. But in this case, we have bus retrofits, land grabs, park creation, etc. Despite the "Infrastructure" label, these are anything but!

[calcowgirl]

Sounds like you'd never vote for anything. You really are one of those who Rush warns doesn't see "perfection is the *enemy* of the good."

And apparently you haven't read these measures. I'm not looking for perfection--I'm looking for responsible Government spending. These measures don't fit the bill.

[Amerigomag]

While there has been no significant change in personal or corporate income tax rates since the Austrian took office individual tax burdens are rising at the fastest rate in the past 5 years for two principal reasons.

Schwarzenegger has been steadily raising non income tax rates (fees, assessments, etc.), causing local tax rates to raise as he siphons off local property tax revenues and has committed greater and greater portions of the state's revenues to debt service which has caused a shortage of money.

Taxes based on unit costs of commodities, are rising rapidly as the unit cost of these commodities is rising. Motor fuel, energy and housing are examples. Rather than reduce the tax rates on these commodities, the Austrian has actively worked to protect those markets. As the increases in the unit prices of these commodities rose, he reaped the tax rewards. A conservative would have adjusted the tax rates downward.

No my friend, your suggestion is charitably a diversion and has the distinct order of contrived bull s....

[KellyAdmirer]

I don't care how you rationalize it. People here are trying to have it both ways in attacking Arnold. It's kind of amusing, actually. He no doubt will be re-elected because he's the best thing that has happened to that state in at least 30 years, since Reagan left office. I pity those who somehow think that getting him booted out and putting in some Democrat will somehow make things better. It might - for the unions, for the welfare statists, and for all the leeches feeding at the trough.

Where were all you fine "conservatives" when the initiatives he stuck his neck out for all failed? Why, sitting on your behinds on the sidelines hoping he would fail, of course, because he's a "Kennedy." Yeah, right. Well, that's just fine for you, you get to cheer yet another defeat for common sense. Hooray! Another disaster!