Governor's spending cap called power grab (Schwarzenegger)

[Judi Lynn]

Governor's spending cap called power grab
Democratic lawmakers balk at rushing action on budget plan

Lynda Gledhill, Mark Martin, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau Wednesday, November 26, 2003


Sacramento -- Democratic legislators, accusing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of attempting a "power grab,'' balked at the governor's budget plan Tuesday and questioned whether they could meet his deadline of next week for taking action to ease the state's fiscal mess.

In Schwarzenegger's first big clash with the Democrat-controlled Legislature, several lawmakers objected to Schwarzenegger's proposal for spending limits that would give the governor unprecedented budget-writing authority.

But the governor's aides warned that Schwarzenegger would take the fight into lawmakers' districts if they didn't act on his plans.

Schwarzenegger wants voters to approve the spending cap along with a $15 billion bond measure to help close the state's mounting deficit. But he needs the Legislature to approve the plan by Dec. 5 in order to get the measure on the March ballot. (snip/...)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2003/11/26/MNGF33B0QF1.DTL

There is a chance to vote on this on the right side of the article.

[realFedUp]

1. I guess it depends on who's spending it....

or borrowing it.

Feeling hummered yet?

[xchrom]

2. feeling hummered yet

i wish -- what schwarzenclown is doing doesn't feel that good.

[monobrau]

3. Typical repug short-sightedness

These idiots always want to give more power to themselves without taking into account that that same power can later be wielded by their opponents. Doesn't it occur to him that a liberal democrat would have the same power to derail the legislature down the road and throw out whatever he does? Why even have the legislature create a budget if der fuhrer can axe it 6 months later?

[Eloriel]

8. They don't plan on having any opponents

Literally.

They are grabbing power for keeps, not for a few months or years.

Eloriel

[placton]

4. Appeal to the Moron-American: Put a Dictator in Charge!

The idiots who decide elections in this country (by not voting or voting against their own interests) are longing for tyrants to tell them what to do. Ah-nold is playing to this need.

The ultimate GOP candidate will be a full fledged dominatrix, in my view.

[VeniceBeat]

5. I Vill Take It To Zuh Peepull!

[Democat]

6. This is the same plan as Bush, get rid of all government but one person

Make the senate and congress powerless and put all of that power in the hands of one person.

That is the Republican plan at the federal and State level.

It is anti-American. Our system is based on checks and balances.

I hope the state Democrats are smarter than the federal ones.

[Judi Lynn]

7. Unless we have a Democratic president, right?

Our government has never looked stranger.

[Democat]

9. If we have a Democratic president, then these rules do not apply

I can't believe the Democrats fall for the same trick over and over again. :)

Hopefully the California Democrats will stand up to Arnold.