reason Schwarzenegger, a Republican, is now asking for a special
election later this year is because the Democratic-controlled state
Senate and Assembly refuse to budge on their old and irresponsible
habits of spend, spend and spend some more, even if they don't have
the money. That's why California is in the financial mess it finds
itself in, because of the disgraceful, long-standing fiscal attitude
of the Democrats.
By calling this special election, the governor will bring his case
to the electorate after the Democratic legislature fought him all the
way on his proposals. Some of those proposals, which are long in
coming, are to put a cap on state spending and extend a teacher's
tenure from two to five years, the latter bitterly opposed by the
teachers' union.
Let's face it, Schwarzenegger's reform plan goes against the old
policies of the powerful unions in the state, and the unions don't
like it. To heck with California and its residents; keep those very
beneficial policies in place, no matter what.
And on a final point, I am dismayed over the rhetoric being used
by the California Teachers' Assn. and its supporting parental groups
about how Schwarzenegger has not repaid the funding he took from the
last year's budget.
To set the record straight, one and all: It is stated by H.D.
Palmer, who is deputy director of the State Department of Finance,
that education always receives more budget money than any other
department. Also, the governor's 2005-06 budget includes a $3-billion
increase over the previous year. Does that sound like a governor who
is anti-education?
DONALD MAZEN
Glendale
