Washington politicians heard Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger yodeling all the way across the country during his State of the State speech yesterday. As a noted advocate for health care reform, his strong appeal to the California congressional delegation to reject the current federal health care plan if the measure is not improved made members of the Washington power elite squirm as quotes gathered by the New York Times reveal.
Schwarzenegger advised the legislature to take risks in seeking major reform this legislative session. He commented that if he had not taken any risks he would still be yodeling in Austria. Instead, he was yodeling loud and clear in California.
Schwarzenegger called out Nebraska U. S. Senator Ben Nelson and his “sweetheart” deal for the Cornhusker state over the health care plan. The governor demanded that California be taken care of as well. The unfairness of treatment between Nebraska and California set the stage for Schwarzenegger’s appeal that California be treated fairly with other states when it comes to receiving money from Washington.
However, there is irony in blasting the Nebraska lawmaker for cutting a favorable deal to get his vote for the health care legislation. The water bond passed by the legislature last year and praised by the governor was stuffed with pork to secure votes and gain its passage.
The governor raised important issues but also raised a number of questions with his proposals.
I like that he wants to put a stronger emphasis on higher education, but that does not have to be done with a constitutional amendment that will wall off another section of the general fund. We should look for ways to take those budget walls down. I like the idea that he is searching for ways to cut costs through privatization.
I like that he wants to revamp the public pension system.
I like the emphasis on job creation, although we don’t need government to take the lead on that, we need to unleash the private sector. Reducing permitting time for construction, re-instating the successful homebuyers tax credit and cutting sales tax on manufacturing are all good ideas. I would ask why not all manufacturing is supported in this way instead of just “green” manufacturing. California has lost too many middle class jobs in manufacturing.
The governor’s call for a re-vamped tax system is appropriate and wise. However, that does not mean the tax proposal suggested by the Parsky Tax Commission is the answer. More thinking should be done on how to re-do the tax system.
How much of this yodeling will echo back with a positive response from the legislature time will tell.
I just wish he had blown up those boxes.