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« BlogPAC: Regionalization Project Begins | Main | Out With the Old »

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

California 2005 Special Election

Posted by Bob Brigham

From the LA Times:

The possibility of a special election has hung over California since January, when the governor outlined his proposals for overhauling state government this year. He said that if lawmakers balked at his ideas, he would take them to voters.

So far, legislative leaders have reached no agreement with the governor on his agenda, and many Democrats are not inclined to compromise with him, saying that his proposals have not generated popular support.

Schwarzenegger's poll numbers have slid precipitously as he has pushed his plans. "If the governor prevails on most, if not all, of his proposals, this will give him a resurgence of momentum and likely break the back of the Democratic opposition," said Larry Gerston, a political science professor at San Jose State University. "If he loses, after putting all of his prestige on the line, this will cut the legs out from under him. We're really looking at a crossroads here."

We are looking at as many as 8 ballot initiatives. So what is each side bringing to the table?

From the Republicans:

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has yet to call the election he has been considering all year. But his allies said they have submitted petitions to place on the ballot three measures he favors. They would curb state spending, strip legislators of the power to decide the boundaries of their districts and delay tenure for public school teachers.

Along with an initiative that challenges unions' political might, on which Schwarzenegger has not taken a public position, the measures would chip at the clout and financing of the Democratic Party and the authority of the Legislature — the one branch of government Democrats have controlled for the last decade.

From the Democrats:

Groups aligned with Democratic lawmakers announced that they had submitted petitions for an initiative that would lower prescription drug prices and for another to re-regulate the state's energy market.

Passage of either would be a rebuke to Schwarzenegger, who vetoed legislative versions of the measures last year.

I don't see how Arnold can chicken-out on the Special Election. But, don't see how he could end in any better position since this would serve as yet another excuse for the growing number of Governorator critics to spend a pile of money bashing Arnold. Then again, this is California so it really doesn't matter what one does (as long as it is done colorfully).

Posted at 09:03 AM in 2005 Elections, California | Technorati

Comments

Somewhat related to the special election issue -- a fab, funny & somewhat newsmaking speech by Warren Beatty @ UC Berkeley:

http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2005/05/21_beatty.shtml

Best line, tho it's tough to choose:

"It's become time to define a Schwarzenegger Republican. A Schwarzenegger Republican is a Bush Republican who says he's a Schwarzenegger Republican."

Posted by: abs0628 [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 24, 2005 01:58 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment