California Governor Calls November Special Election

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger this evening set a special election on Nov. 8 for California voters to consider his plans to overhaul state government and a handful of unrelated but controversial initiatives:

Although eight initiatives are expected to be on the fall ballot, only three are remnants of the agenda Schwarzenegger outlined in his January State of the State speech to the Democratic-controlled Legislature.

The governor has dubbed 2005 the “year for reform,” and outlined his plans in an address from his Capitol office.

The initiatives he has embraced would alter the balance of power in Sacramento by shifting the job of drawing legislative districts to a panel of judges, imposing a new spending cap on the government budget, and lengthen the time required for public school teachers to obtain tenure.

Among the other ballot measures, a major battle is expected over one that would require state employees to approve annually the use of their union dues for political purposes â€” which could hobble the unions’ ability to fund political campaigns. Another fight is expected over providing low-cost prescription drugs.