Arnold Sets up Battle Scene
Public employees to fight Nov. 8 proposals
Education groups and local governments stand to lose money and power under initiatives on this fall's special-election ballot, according to reports by the state's independent, nonpartisan legislative analyst.
Backed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the proposal that supporters call the "Live Within Our Means" measure could cut state expenditures, resulting in varying reductions in support for education, local government, transportation and other programs, according to the Legislative Analyst's Office.
It also would allow the governor to slash appropriations midyear if the state faces unresolved budget deficits, according to the analysis.
Hitting the campaign trail Tuesday, the day after calling the Nov. 8 special election, Schwarzenegger said, " California has to stop spending more than it takes in. We can no longer afford it."
School officials fiercely oppose the initiative. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell said it "is a measure that would eviscerate the promise of at least a minimum level of funding" under voter-approved Proposition 98.
Another initiative on the ballot would ban state and local governments from processing payroll deductions when any part of the amount would be used for political purposes by a public employee union.
The effect of the measure, legislative analysts said, essentially would be to end the ability of powerful Democrat-allied public workers unions to lobby politically.
Schwarzenegger backers qualified the measure, although the governor has yet to take a position on it. But Schwarzenegger has often criticized public-employee unions as powerful and troubling special interests.
Lou Paulson, president of the California Professional Firefighters, said the initiative "is aimed squarely at stifling the voice of the people. ... The governor can't win when people hear both sides, so he and his allies want to shut us up."
At the same time, teachers oppose another measure backed by the governor as a way, he says, to improve education.
It would increase from two to five years the time required for public school teachers to earn tenure, and it would allow school boards to fire a tenured teacher who receives bad performance evaluations for two consecutive years.
Legislative analysts said the initiative would curtail the influence of the Democrat-allied California Teachers Association and perhaps any outspoken members.
CTA President Barbara Kerr said the measure "would make it harder to recruit and retain quality teachers and would silence the voices of public employees in the political process."
Another measure backed by Schwarzenegger would, he says, bring balance and fairness to the state in political redistricting.
Legislative analysts said it would minimize splitting of counties and cities into multiple districts and ban consideration of data regarding political party affiliations -- thereby ending majority Democrats' ability to shape districts that increase the number of their elected officials.
Senate leader Don Perata, D-Oakland, who was heavily involved in the latest redistricting that was approved by both parties, accused the governor of "partisanship and political games" in pushing the measure.