May 9, 2006 - Union-Tribune - GOP, Democratic legislators join governor to promote bond issues

By John Marelius
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

May 9, 2006

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and a bipartisan delegation of legislative leaders flew around the state yesterday to promote the $37.3 billion public works bond package approved last week for the November ballot.

“When I ran for governor, people always said it would be impossible to bring Democrats and Republicans together,” the Republican governor told an airport news conference in San Diego. “But we've proven again that we can come together.”

Schwarzenegger highlighted school construction money that would go to San Diego if the education component of the package is approved in the November election.

“For San Diego, this means that for education, for building schools, there will be $1 billion that will become available for new schools and modernizing existing schools,” he said.

Four separate bond issues will appear on the November ballot: $19.9 billion for transportation, $10.4 billion for education, $4.1 billion for flood control and $2.9 billion for housing.

The governor made a whirlwind campaign-style tour of California air terminals to stump for the bond package, making stops in Oakland, Burbank, Santa Ana and San Diego.

He was joined by Senate President Pro Tempore Don Perata, an Oakland Democrat; Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman of Tustin; Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, a Los Angeles Democrat; Assembly Republican Leader George Plescia of La Jolla and, in San Diego, by Democratic Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña of San Diego.

Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders said they were able to put aside election-year politics to get a deal done.

“Even though it's an election year, everyone looked at what was best for the people of California, rather than what is best for politics,” Schwarzenegger said.

Perata said the overwhelming bipartisan votes for the bond measures were particularly impressive during campaign season.

“This was a remarkable achievement, if nothing else that we were able to get well over two-thirds votes for most of these bonds during an election year,” Perata said. “It's usually not the time that you would expect to see bipartisan cooperation, but it happened this year and it happened for a number of reasons, not the least of which is we had strong gubernatorial leadership.”

Núñez, who is co-chairman of state Treasurer Phil Angelides' campaign for the Democratic nomination for governor, distanced himself from Angelides' claim that Schwarzenegger was trying to hog political glory that rightly belongs to the Legislature.

“Everybody's entitled to their perspective and their point of view, but I've got to say there's enough credit here to go around for everybody,” Núñez said. “I think the governor played a key role in this.”

San Diego Union-Tribune
GOP, Democratic legislators join governor to promote bond issues
By John Marelius UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER May 9, 2006 Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and a bipartisan delegation of legislative leaders flew around the state yesterday to promote the $37.3 billion public works bond package approved last week for the November ballot. “When I ran for governor, people always said it would be impossible to bring Democrats and Republicans together,” the Republican governor told an airport news conference in San Diego. “But we've proven again that we can come together.” Schwarzenegger highlighted school construction money that would go to San Diego if the education component of the package is approved in the November election. “For San Diego, this means that for education, for building schools, there will be $1 billion that will become available for new schools and modernizing existing schools,” he said. Four separate bond issues will appear on the November ballot: $19.9 billion for transportation, $10.4 billion for education, $4.1 billion for flood control and $2.9 billion for housing. The governor made a whirlwind campaign-style tour of California air terminals to stump for the bond package, making stops in Oakland, Burbank, Santa Ana and San Diego. He was joined by Senate President Pro Tempore Don Perata, an Oakland Democrat; Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman of Tustin; Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, a Los Angeles Democrat; Assembly Republican Leader George Plescia of La Jolla and, in San Diego, by Democratic Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña of San Diego. Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders said they were able to put aside election-year politics to get a deal done. “Even though it's an election year, everyone looked at what was best for the people of California, rather than what is best for politics,” Schwarzenegger said. Perata said the overwhelming bipartisan votes for the bond measures were particularly impressive during campaign season. “This was a remarkable achievement, if nothing else that we were able to get well over two-thirds votes for most of these bonds during an election year,” Perata said. “It's usually not the time that you would expect to see bipartisan cooperation, but it happened this year and it happened for a number of reasons, not the least of which is we had strong gubernatorial leadership.” Núñez, who is co-chairman of state Treasurer Phil Angelides' campaign for the Democratic nomination for governor, distanced himself from Angelides' claim that Schwarzenegger was trying to hog political glory that rightly belongs to the Legislature. “Everybody's entitled to their perspective and their point of view, but I've got to say there's enough credit here to go around for everybody,” Núñez said. “I think the governor played a key role in this.”

San Diego Union-Tribune

GOP, Democratic legislators join governor to promote bond issues