California Governor/movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a fiscal emergency: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a fiscal emergency on Monday and called lawmakers into a special budget session, warning that California was in danger of running out of daily operating cash within two months.
Gee. And I totally thought his $15 billion bond issue idea to balance the budget in 2004 would save the day. Because, you know
he ruled out raising taxes, saying that would be the "final nail in California's economic coffin."
Yeah, how’d that work out for you, Governator?
Mismanagement like this is what supposedly got Gray Davis recalled. As it happens, a story overlooked in the heat of election season was the recall petition filed by the California prison guard’s union:
The California Correctional Peace Officers Association's petition accuses the governor of "catastrophic leadership failings" that have left the state in worse fiscal shape than when he swept into office five years ago after voters recalled then-Gov. Gray Davis.
Schwarzenegger has seven days to respond to the union before it can file the petition with the secretary of state. The union would need to gather 1,041,530 valid signatures to qualify the recall for a statewide ballot.
I’m sure this will go away, if it hasn’t been forgotten already. Unlike the Gray Davis recall, which was orchestrated and paid for by the California Republican Party, I doubt California Democrats or a group like MoveOn has much interest in pushing to recall Schwarzenegger.
I do hope his botched handling of the California government kills his political career once and for all, though. He needs to goes back to bad acting and his Hummer collection. Fat chance, I know, since conservatives are attached to his burly physique, thick accent, and the rugged icon he played in the “Terminator” movies.
I think we all need to face facts and admit that Republicans couldn’t run a government if it came with training wheels, handles, and a driver’s ed teacher in the next seat.
