Yes, this an example of his caving on the budget. This is one of hundreds, if not thousands. You can't seem to explain it away, though, can you?
Lemming-like allegiance is rarely helpful. I'm willing to give Arnold credit for repealing the illegal car tax and pushing through his workers' comp reform. But I will honestly criticize him when he fails to stand up to the spending lobby, as he inexcusably did with this budget.
The spending lobby is protected by that 73-46 Democrat majority.
No Republican Governor cannot operate a wholesale cost cutting program in that milieu. None.
Arnold has endeavored to pump the economy by reducing or maintaining existing individual and corporate taxes, fees and regulatory fines. The top half of the P&L. The disparities are covered by debt instruments, and the expense model needs to be transformed through citizen enlightenment and GOP electoral success. That's that.
Meanwhile, the Credit Agencies have upgraded California's creditworthiness, businesses who were planning to move or reinvest elsewhere are staying home, and Arnold is selling the State as a place for investment and commerce worldwide.
I have three siblings raising families in California, they are representative of Californians in my respected focus group, and they are doing well. They support Arnold. They do not, in any way, think California has become an illegal immigrant Hell on Earth or an inhuman state Gulag. They are enjoying prosperity, health and hopeful prospects.
I do a fair amount of business with California based firms. They are optimistic and busy.
The negative dicourse on FR is not, in any way, a representative portrayal of California's health and well being. Fix your problems people. Arnold is an ally.