January 05, 2006 - Governor draws ire of GOP

Governor draws ire of GOP

January 05, 2006

By Edward Barrera, Staff Writer
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

Local legislators know that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger plans to move to the left politically this year but they don't know just how far left. The answer to that question will begin to be answered today during the governor's State of the State address in Sacramento.

Republican legislators have already braced themselves for the governor to push an ambitious agenda such as a multibillion-dollar infrastructure bond, minimum wage increase and a hike in education spending, but they hope fiscal responsibility will not be thrown to the wayside.

"I think he has to draw the line on new taxes," said Assemblyman Bob Huff, R-Diamond Bar. "The Democrats' solution is to grab from the money tree and that money tree is us.

"I hope that Arnold won't lose touch with the base that got him where he is, the ones who made the phone calls, raised the money, walked the precincts," Huff said. "Unless he screws them, they will do it again in the next election."

State Sen. Bob Margett, R-Glendora, said due to the November special election, where all of the Schwarzenegger-backed initiatives failed, the governor will move to the left to capture more moderates.

"I think he would want to solidify his Republican base," Margett said. "But maybe he thinks he doesn't need it and will look for moderates to carry him through an election."

Schwarzenegger is up for re-election in November.

After the special election, the governor immediately struck a conciliatory stance, reaching out to opponents who had vilified him days before.

Among the governor's proposals already disclosed are increasing the minimum wage from $6.75 to $7.75 over two years, boosting the education budget by $4.3 billion, freezing higher education fees and introducing the infrastructure bond.

Local Democrats approved the governor's expected proposals, especially the minimum-wage and education-spending hikes, believing they are long overdue.

"He is making suggestions he should have made a long time ago," said Assemblyman Joe Baca Jr., D-San Bernardino. "Now he is going down the middle. He got too far right (politically). He forgot who he represents, especially the middle class. Hopefully (November's) election reminded him."

Despite the education-spending boost, Baca still believes more needs to be done, which is why he introduced a bill Wednesday to roll back fees for community college students from $26 a unit to $11 a unit.

State Sen. Nell Soto, D-Ontario, said Republicans and Democrats need to finally work together to fix the looming issues facing the state, especially infrastructure funding.

"That's fine with me, we need it for the Inland Empire," Soto said. "That would be a big economic boost for us."

The biggest clash between local legislators centered on the minimum-wage increase. Democrats said it was long overdue, while Republicans said it will hurt small businesses.

"The thing you don't do on the road to economic recovery is to increase the costs on business," said Assemblyman Ray Haynes, R-Temecula. "It's just this kind of behavior that pushed the collapse of (former Gov.) Gray Davis' administration."

State Sen. Bob Dutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga, said a minimum-wage increase doesn't make it a livable wage, something it was never intended to be anyway.

"It's an entry-level wage for young people, mostly teenagers," Dutton said. "They are there to learn a skill or trade. You're not helping them. You're going to be hurting them."

Margett pointed out that the governor had long touted his business-friendly agenda.

"He was the one saying if you increase the costs, you drive out businesses," Margett said. "That was a mantra of his."

Haynes said that many of his Republican colleagues and activists are becoming more vocal about the direction the governor is apparently taking.

"What I would like to hear is that the governor is ready to once again take a principled stand and fight for it," Haynes said. "My concern is that he will capitulate to the Democratic agenda because that's what he thinks he needs to (do)."

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Governor draws ire of GOP


January 05, 2006 By Edward Barrera, Staff Writer Inland Valley Daily Bulletin Local legislators know that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger plans to move to the left politically this year but they don't know just how far left. The answer to that question will begin to be answered today during the governor's State of the State address in Sacramento. Republican legislators have already braced themselves for the governor to push an ambitious agenda such as a multibillion-dollar infrastructure bond, minimum wage increase and a hike in education spending, but they hope fiscal responsibility will not be thrown to the wayside. "I think he has to draw the line on new taxes," said Assemblyman Bob Huff, R-Diamond Bar. "The Democrats' solution is to grab from the money tree and that money tree is us. "I hope that Arnold won't lose touch with the base that got him where he is, the ones who made the phone calls, raised the money, walked the precincts," Huff said. "Unless he screws them, they will do it again in the next election." State Sen. Bob Margett, R-Glendora, said due to the November special election, where all of the Schwarzenegger-backed initiatives failed, the governor will move to the left to capture more moderates. "I think he would want to solidify his Republican base," Margett said. "But maybe he thinks he doesn't need it and will look for moderates to carry him through an election." Schwarzenegger is up for re-election in November. After the special election, the governor immediately struck a conciliatory stance, reaching out to opponents who had vilified him days before. Among the governor's proposals already disclosed are increasing the minimum wage from $6.75 to $7.75 over two years, boosting the education budget by $4.3 billion, freezing higher education fees and introducing the infrastructure bond. Local Democrats approved the governor's expected proposals, especially the minimum-wage and education-spending hikes, believing they are long overdue. "He is making suggestions he should have made a long time ago," said Assemblyman Joe Baca Jr., D-San Bernardino. "Now he is going down the middle. He got too far right (politically). He forgot who he represents, especially the middle class. Hopefully (November's) election reminded him." Despite the education-spending boost, Baca still believes more needs to be done, which is why he introduced a bill Wednesday to roll back fees for community college students from $26 a unit to $11 a unit. State Sen. Nell Soto, D-Ontario, said Republicans and Democrats need to finally work together to fix the looming issues facing the state, especially infrastructure funding. "That's fine with me, we need it for the Inland Empire," Soto said. "That would be a big economic boost for us." The biggest clash between local legislators centered on the minimum-wage increase. Democrats said it was long overdue, while Republicans said it will hurt small businesses. "The thing you don't do on the road to economic recovery is to increase the costs on business," said Assemblyman Ray Haynes, R-Temecula. "It's just this kind of behavior that pushed the collapse of (former Gov.) Gray Davis' administration." State Sen. Bob Dutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga, said a minimum-wage increase doesn't make it a livable wage, something it was never intended to be anyway. "It's an entry-level wage for young people, mostly teenagers," Dutton said. "They are there to learn a skill or trade. You're not helping them. You're going to be hurting them." Margett pointed out that the governor had long touted his business-friendly agenda. "He was the one saying if you increase the costs, you drive out businesses," Margett said. "That was a mantra of his." Haynes said that many of his Republican colleagues and activists are becoming more vocal about the direction the governor is apparently taking. "What I would like to hear is that the governor is ready to once again take a principled stand and fight for it," Haynes said. "My concern is that he will capitulate to the Democratic agenda because that's what he thinks he needs to (do)."
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