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Finally--Schwarzenegger to Arouse Public on the California Budget

By Frank D. Russo

Theodore Roosevelt coined the phrase "the bully pulpit" to describe the platform that the U.S. Presidency afforded him to speak and be listened to by the folks that matter. He also advised on diplomacy to "Speak softly, but carry a big stick."

Just exactly how Arnold Schwarzenegger will play his role and use the powers of persuasion he has to get at least one more Republican state senator to vote for the California state budget so that it can pass and the other business of the state can be attended to, may be the coming attraction of the week. We've had a bit of a preview with the Governor himself writing an op ed piece, his Director of Finance (former staffer to the Senate Republican caucus!), Mike Genest,writing an article aimed at one of the holdouts in a paper in his district and also using the Govenor's weekly radio spot to highlight how the budget represents Republican values.

The Governor will start off the week in the district of Abel Maldonado, the lone Republican in the Senate to vote for the budget at an event to highlight how the budget has affected those dependent on Medi-Cal for their health benefits. It's a good sign to see him back in the state and finally focusing on the budget in a public way.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is not only the Governor of California, but he is a celebrity. He has the ability to command headlines and to be listened to by the people of California. Ultimately, it is the people of California, the voters in at least one of those Republican districts that will matter, and provide the switch needed.

So far, Schwarzenegger has been relatively silent on the budget. A number of stories in the press have started to comment on this, including today's Sacramento Bee.

We have heard from his office that he has been busily engaged behind the scenes on the budget. He had a meeting behind closed doors with the Senate Republicans. He has invited the legislative leaders to his smoking tent. But his reputation for bold action and grandiose ideas, honed in his movie roles and the persona he wants to project as Governor is now at stake and this impasse threatens the ability of the state to do anything new or bold on other legislative action, including health care. The San Jose Mercury News has this to say in this morning's editorial:

If the state budget stalemate must be resolved before the health care debate can continue, then Schwarzenegger and Perata must use their political clout to make that happen. Two months ago, the governor was only too happy to grace the cover of Time magazine as the poster boy for the new era of "post-partisan" politics. It's time for him to exhibit those skills so there is sufficient time to hammer out an agreement on intricate health care reform. …
The governor and lawmakers in California must make good on the best opportunity of this generation to pass health care reform.

If they don't, we can forget about the governor's promise that 2008 will be "the year of education."

During the 59 days since the June 15 California Constitutional deadline for passage of the budget, he has traveled to Florida to speak on the need for Florida to take action on global warming (and to raise money for the Republican Party. He has traveled to Canada and signed protocols on global warming. He later traveled to Great Britain and met with Prime Minister Tony Blair on Blair's last day in office ostensibly to talk about a "continuing partnership" on global warming (but was reportedly upset when the incoming prime minister tried to meet with him). He continued on to France to meet with incoming President Sarkozy, and made a short side trip to his country of origin, Austria.

During this time, he has attended to California's business whether it is the Lake Tahoe Fire, flooding in Needles, fighting the West Nile virus, and has made a number of statements, signed a number of orders, and visited different parts of the state. In his trademark fashion, he has also set off on a whirlwind tour of the state on themes of the week, be they water issues or health care.

He's also been able to welcome home the space shuttle on June 22 and commend the launch of another one on August 8.

Now that he is back from a week's vacation out of state, the San Diego Union with the headline "State's budget battle to resume as Schwarzenegger's vacation ends", tells us, "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has been on a weeklong vacation out of state with his family, is scheduled to return today and resume the battle over a six-week budget deadlock with appearances at health rallies in Fresno and Los Angeles."

So, we'll see how he speaks. Too loudly, like he did when he called the legislators "girly men" and it may backfire like it did back then in 2005. His office has already been caught ghostwriting a statement critical of Senate Republicans. Too softly, and he may not be able to get any new votes--remember, he could not deliver votes on AB 32, the global warming bill from this same crowd (and that is their sticking point this time--gutting any enforcement of AB 32 through the state's environmental laws).

At least he's baack--and focused on the budget. The Democrats in the legislature have done all they can to pass the budget. All of them have voted for it. The Assembly passed the budget bill with votes from Assembly Republicans before recessing. There have been dozens of public hearings on the budget and a number of Senate floor sessions including an all nighter. Time to move this beyond the veil of the smoking tent and the back rooms and get the people to demand that their business be done--and to do this in public.

Posted on August 12, 2007

Comments

I couldn't agree with this column any more! Yes, let's see this governor do his job and get the lax republicans to pass the budget. I would love to see the 14 holdouts explain themselves to a group of nursing aides who are not being paid, or to their charges, who no longer have the help they need. Arnold needs to act like the lofty politician he aspires to be. If he can't get one little vote in the Senate, I hate to see what kind of U.S. Senator he would be--let's all be paying attention to him, and to those 14 ne'r do wells in the state senate. The time to act is now.

Posted by: janice at August 12, 2007 04:53 PM

Janice.. What about the temporary spending bill that the democrats refused to pass? I am sorry but it isn't one party or the other. Shame on both parties and our Governor for not taking the bull by the horns and getting this done!!

Posted by: Fred, Galt, Califorina at August 13, 2007 07:03 AM

Arnold Schwarzenegger, of late, is the biggest 'girly man' in California, if not the whole of the U.S..

Posted by: Geoff at August 13, 2007 07:25 AM

Shame on everyone!! The politicians for their personal agendas that make them forget why they were elected, and shame on the people of this state for their complacency. I work for a nonprofit organization that provides child care to hundreds of low-income families who are already stuggling to make a living in one of the most expensive places to live in the US. By not passing a state budget in a timely manner, the care for these children is in jeopardy. Do these politicians care that they are putting these children at risk because no one will be available to care for them?

Posted by: Kay at August 13, 2007 10:02 AM

The budget should be passed this week and it should not be used as a tool to even scores or hold eachother ransom for some new favor.
I would like to see a law that says something to the effect of "If no budget is agreed to by June 15th then the past years budget is automaticly re-approved/adopted."

Posted by: Susan at August 13, 2007 10:05 AM

Susan

We as a people, in this Great State of California, do need to find a way to put an end to this type of foolishness. When we vote on a bill it is not up to a few to change the will of the State as a whole.

We do need to implement some type of solution to prevent this from happening in the future. Now is the time to let our voices be heard!

Posted by: Ron at August 13, 2007 01:28 PM

Working in a facility serving 36 medically fragile children as a nurse, I can say half of our staff would leave at the first hint of no pay check. As nurses we can be working the next day. The end result would be shipping these kids out to intensive care units at various other hospitals at three times the current cost.

Posted by: JOHN LALOR at August 13, 2007 05:15 PM

Posted by: JOHN LALOR at August 13, 2007 05:59 PM

When is the budget going to be passed?

Posted by: Claire Bell at August 13, 2007 06:44 PM

Reply to Janice,

The explanation is simple, budget haven't been pass and will not be till democrats give Republicans exactly what they want.

Posted by: Dmitriy at August 13, 2007 08:10 PM

Reply to Kay,

Call Democrats and tell them to give in to republicans demands. In press released, Republicans made it clear, till Democrats give in their will be no budget

Posted by: Dmitriy at August 13, 2007 08:13 PM

The Republicans want to ignore environmental laws so they are holding the budget hostage. Shame on them. Do they not want to start tackling change on global warming or are they just beholden to the developer's whims in their districts.

Posted by: Mary at August 14, 2007 08:48 AM

Republicans or Democrats whoever is holding up the passing of the budget should be ashamed of yourselves for putting other people through the torment of waiting on you to pass it so they can get paid or get things paid, It's awful you don't have a heart for these people, you guys have nothing to lose and it's a shame, you should have to pay a price for dragging your ----- !!!

Posted by: Debra at August 16, 2007 07:08 AM

I completely agree with Susan. The Calif. Constitution gives June 15th as deadline for budget to pass, and if deadline is not met, it should be automatically passed. Gov. condemned because of a 'weeks vacation'? Politicians also scampered out of town for a PAID FOUR WEEK VACATION at our expense. Perhaps Constitution should be amended to DENY ALL VACATIONS until the budget is passed. As a disabled senior I could surely use that Rent Rebate check. I blame both parties for their completely IMMORAL lack of concern for the people of Calif..

Posted by: terri at August 17, 2007 06:19 PM

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