Governor: Ready for Politics of Compromise?
Bill Mundell, Chairman, Californians for Fair Redistricting
Is the Governator getting SQUISHY?
But coming to terms with Democratic legislators on several of Schwarzenegger’s proposals will be complicated. And interests on both sides, in the end, might prefer a November war.
“I wouldn’t go to Vegas and bet on (a deal),” noted Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata on Friday.
Flap handicaps it at 50-50 that Arnold goes for the compromise, is picked to death by the public employee unions and then loses in 2006.
How Arnold can even consider compromise is beyond belief.
But, perhaps it is his left-wing family value system?
A group of Democratic staffers and administration officials have been meeting for about five weeks to discuss the Schwarzenegger proposals and areas of compromise.
The relationship between Schwarzenegger and Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, which has been rocky, has warmed up in recent weeks. The governor’s wife, Maria Shriver, took Núñez’s 14-year-old daughter to lunch last Saturday, and Núñez and Schwarzenegger met privately Thursday night to discuss the proposals. Veterans of Sacramento note that personal relationships can play a major role in policy outcomes.
“Right now, we’re all in a good mood,” Núñez said this week after the Legislature overwhelmingly approved the budget. “This is the time to do it.”
“The budget agreement was a big step in the right direction,” said Margita Thompson, the governor’s press secretary.
California conservatives are nervous with the Governor.
Is he a true RINO?
Is he a one half term expedient replacement for the failed Gray Davis?
Flap bets that all of the initiative measure sponsors are equally nervous.
These more conservative Republicans are worried that Schwarzenegger, concerned with his sinking poll numbers, is too willing to make a deal with Democrats.
“There’s no question that concern is out there,” said Joel Fox, a former Schwarzenegger campaign aide who helped run the effort to put the governor’s initiatives on the ballot. “People worry that one day he wants to compromise and one day he wants to fight.”
But, compromise deals are possible.
Lawmakers could agree on some form of redistricting that would allow judges, instead of lawmakers, to create voting districts if Schwarzenegger agreed to loosen the state’s term-limits law, for example.
And with polls showing voter support for the anti-union initiative and disapproval for the governor’s budget reform, a deal is possible in which Democrats agree to some version of budget reform if Schwarzenegger agrees not to campaign for the union initiative.
Perata and Núñez have said in the past few weeks that they would be willing to consider one aspect of the governor’s proposal to curb state spending — a provision to allow for midyear budget adjustments if the economy is hit with a dramatic downturn.
The state’s term-limit law should not be changed under any circumstance.
Are you kidding me? Give those Leftie Democrat legislators more time? No way!
And trading some budget restraint for Paycheck protection?
An equally bad move.
California voters are in the mood for budgetary reform and will support it at the polls. The Governor does not need to trade anything.
Paycheck Protection is about the unions robbing their captive members to support their left wing causes. It is leading in the polls and will pass – thereby preventing millions of dollars in union dues to be used against non-union endorsed candidates (meaning most all Republicans).
Why would a Republican Governor campaign against such a measure?
The trick in reaching compromise will be in persuading all of the interests that a deal is a good thing.
Elements on both sides appear to be intent on fighting. A coalition of labor unions that has been attacking Schwarzenegger released a new television ad Friday featuring a teacher criticizing the governor.
And Bill Mundell, a Southern California millionaire who is helping bankroll the redistricting initiative, sent out an e-mail to 1 million supporters this week urging them to call the governor’s office and demand that he not negotiate on the initiative.
Still, agreement and bipartisanship, political analysts agree, is what voters want. That could be enough to drive a compromise.
“The problem for both sides is this doesn’t work like a seesaw,” said Darry Sragow, a longtime Democratic strategist. “It’s not like if Arnold goes down, Democrats go up. If there’s divisiveness and partisanship, everyone goes down.”
So, Arnold the ball is in your court.
Make the RIGHT choice!
Cross-posted to the Bear Flag League Special Election Page