Posted on 10/09/2006 7:25:23 PM PDT by calcowgirl
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger does not have an easily discernible political philosophy, so all of Sacramento sat with bated breath in September, waiting to see what bills would become law or not. At the end of this session, Gov. Schwarzenegger signed 910 bills and vetoed 262.
The worst of it: Gov. Schwarzenegger passed a dubious bill that would reduce “greenhouse gas emissions,” something that will harm jobs, impose new costs on businesses and expand government bureaucracy.
“We simply must do everything in our power to slow down global warming before it's too late,” he said during the bill-signing.
Another counterproductive feel-good law signed by the governor raises the state's minimum wage to $8 an hour by 2008, from the current rate of $6.75. This will not only drive inflation, but it will cause many small businesses to cut back on the number of people they hire.
The governor also signed a bill that will impose price controls on drug companies, something that will raise prices for others and make it more difficult for companies to develop new drugs in the long run.
One of the governor's worst actions was his veto of a “sunshine bill” that would have made it easier for the public to gain access to records that government agencies are supposed to release but routinely refuse to do so. The bill would have allowed the state attorney general to review rejected requests and also would have allowed fines to be assessed against agencies that flaunt the open-records laws.
The governor also vetoed, wrongly, we believe, the California Industrial Hemp Farming Act, a bipartisan bill that would have allowed farmers to grow hemp products provided they do not contain any significant level of THC, the chemical that produces the high from marijuana.
Critics were right that the veto showed an “irrational fear” of looking soft on drugs. Industrial hemp can be used to make clothing and in a variety of consumer and food products, and has nothing to do with drug use.
The governor also signed anti-property-rights legislation that requires landlords to give 60 days to move out if the tenant has lived there longer than a year. This only adds to the burdens of landlords and will make it less desirable for people to offer rental housing.
The governor did some good things. He vetoed legislation that would have undermined the workers compensation reforms that have reduced workers comp premiums since 2004.
The governor vetoed “job-killer” health care legislation that would have forced employers to pay a set percentage of their payroll on health care. And the governor signed legislation that provides more safeguards for elderly Californians who live under the care of conservators.
The big picture? Although the governor did some good things, his final actions show a disturbing willingness to support larger, secretive government and an unpredictability and lack of clear political principles that reminds us too much of the Gray Davis era.
It does provide excellent cover and concealment for a field full of non-industrial hemp, though.
Everything for the sheeple.
Aren't editors expected to credit their sources?
The problem, Arnold, is Global Whining.
One would think so!
He is just another example of the rich & powerful protecting each other...which is why gun control means mind control because the rich & powerful control the laws, the media and your freedom...think about it...you don't have any ability to control your own destiny...imagine what it is like in Pakistan, China, Saudi Arabia, etc.
Global warming is B.S. and so is Gov. S... compared to Commie Gray Davis, Gov. S is almost the same...at least we knew that Gray Davis was a Commie! Gov. S. is just better at covering up his Commie philosophy.
Maybe Arnold doesn't like Woody Harrelson.
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