Some things do not make sense.
The Governor tried to cut the wages of state workers, and a lawsuit stopped that.
The Governor claimed he would not sign any bills until the budget was passed--but he really wanted a $20 billion choo choo train bond (principal plus interest--then another $80 billion to finish the project), so he signed that bill.
The Governor demanded a tax increase on the poor and middle class, he knew the GOP would stop that.
Now, at 3:00pm today, he is going to announce that he will VETO the just completed budget.
Of course, since the budget passed with 2/3 vote in each house, and since he was not a part of the negotiations to get the bill passed, he was NOT invited to participate, why does he think his veto will be upheld.
Here is his problem--he wants a larger "reserve fund". Per the budget bill, the "reserve" is $1.2 billion--sounds good, right? Well, the PLANNED deficit is $1.5 billion. In other words, the reserve will be gone before it even exists.
Worse, last year he had a $3 billion "reserve" and that was gone in eight weeks after the Guv signed the last budget.
We need to cut spending, sell unneeded assets and get rid of the special interests if we really want a balanced budget. To veto a budget that will shortly be overturned by the legislature will make the Governor look even weaker than he is today. Guess this is what happens when you use Gray Davis advisers as yours.
Note that a poll released this morning his total approval rating is 38% approval--and among Republicans is is 45% approval and 45% disapproval.
See the veto story here. More as it becomes available.
Really STUPID move by Arnold. It is a horrible budget and is full of smoke and mirrors but it is the best that can be done without tax increases.
Good Grief!
Both sides agree, finally get somewhere and now the Guv is gonna veto the budget, and in a fit of spite, everything else too?
We spent good money on a recall for this? This is even worse than with Davis!
We'd be better off with a small cute dog running the State at this point.
Steve,
I agree with you on the ludicrousness of Arnold vetoing this thing. He will definitely be weakened politically by doing this if the Legislature overturns his veto, which it seems likely they will.
The Gov is clearly getting some bad political advice, which I suspect is coming largely from Susan Kennedy, his chief of staff (and former Gray Davis staffer).
Arnold seems to be going the same way as Jesse Ventura in Minnesota (i.e., once again proving that celebrities and actors don't make very good politicians). The one exception, of course, being Ronald Reagan.