Posted on 12/07/2006 7:53:19 AM PST by SmithL
SACRAMENTO - Voters are optimistic that the cooperative mood that prevailed at the Capitol this year will continue to lead the state in the right direction, according to a statewide poll.
And if it does not, observers said, voters could quickly turn sour.
A majority of voters -- 53 percent -- approve of the way that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Legislature are working together, according to the a post-election survey of 2,000 people by the Public Policy Institute of California.
A year ago, a mere 14 percent had the same view.
And most voters -- 58 percent -- are confident that Schwarzenegger and the Legislature will be able to work together and "accomplish a lot" in 2007.
"They have their hopes up," said Mark Baldassare, director of the PPIC survey. "Now, they feel the governor and Legislature are on a roll and want to see it continue. But, if voters get a sense that things are going back in the direction of gridlock and partisanship, they'll change their tune."
Voters are much more positive about the direction the state is heading than a year ago, up from 23 percent to 53 percent -- a view driven by the strong economy, said Jack Pitney, political science professor at Claremont McKenna College.
"A good economy directly improves peoples' views and makes it easier for the governor and Legislature to work together," he said. "But a lot of the good feeling is also driven by Schwarzenegger's visible courtship of the Legislature. During the campaign, he was always talking about his willingness and eagerness to work with the Legislature."
Schwarzenegger's 60 percent job approval rating comes on the heels of a landslide victory and a campaign that blurred partisan differences.
That should give him a mandate, Pitney said, to continue on the same bipartisan path.
Schwarzenegger spokeswoman Margita Thompson said the governor believes he can continue the bipartisanship next year.
"Californians are optimistic because they saw what was accomplished last year, and believe that the momentum can continue into the future," she said. "The governor shares their optimism and will continue to work with both Democrats and Republicans in the Legislature to promote all Californians' interests."
Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, said it is Democratic lawmakers and the Republican governor -- but not Republican lawmakers -- who deserve the credit for bipartisan cooperation.
"The question is do they (Republican legislators) get on the bipartisan bus or do they veer off to the right in that conservative agenda," he said. "This bipartisanship really has been between the governor and the Democratic legislators."
Democrats, he said, worked with the Republican leadership on infrastructure bonds and other issues, "but on a lot of these things we're getting high marks on from the public ... Republicans stood against many of these things we were able to do. The onus is on the Republican leadership in the Legislature to decide whether or not they're going to be part of this bipartisan agenda."
Republicans already have shown signs that they intend to play the loyal opposition, rather than to play up to the public's desire for bipartisanship.
They elected a hard-line leader in the Assembly, Mike Villines of Fresno, who has signaled that he intends to more aggressively take on Schwarzenegger to defend conservative causes.
And Senate Minority Leader Dick Ackerman, R-Tustin, who barely survived a challenge from conservative Sen. Jim Battin, R-Palm Desert, also has vowed to stand up for his caucus.
Villines said he was aware of the public's expectations, but that putting out a budget that closes the gap on the state's $5.5 billion deficit -- his top priority -- is more important than producing a budget on time for a show of bipartisanship.
Changing the way district lines are drawn, he added -- an issue that Schwarzenegger has embraced, but Democrats have not -- would raise the public's confidence in the Legislature.
"If we do close the structural gap and do redistricting, our numbers will be even higher," he said. "Voters don't mind us having a real vigorous debate, but want us to get our work done."
The Legislature is still held in relatively low regard. Only 36 percent approve of their job performance, but that is up from 20 percent a year ago.
And, voters' trust in state government is still low: Just 28 percent believe they can trust state government to "do what is right," and two-thirds of voters believe the Capitol is run by "a few big interests."
But, that sentiment is less pronounced than a year ago, when three-fourths of voters felt the same.
Voters are also wary about the growth of the state: 60 percent say it is a bad thing that the state's population is expected to increase by 10 million in the next 20 years.
That may be why the most important issue facing Californians is immigration (20 percent), ahead of jobs and the economy (14 percent), education and schools (13 percent), health care (7 percent) and the state budget, the deficit and taxes (7 percent)
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
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Gov. ARNOLD at his Freedom-Loving best (Photo Essay)
http://gov.ca.gov/index.php?/photos/3165/posts
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Will the Governor ever honor those of us who are of Nordic Heritage?
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