Cuts are coming

Alicia Robinson

Little new material came out in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s first

State of the State address Tuesday, but he did list a few problems

he’ll attack in 2004.

He urged support for a $15-billion bond issue on the March ballot

to solve the budget crisis and pledged to cut spending in a variety

of ways, as he promised during his campaign.

The speech was important because it was Schwarzenegger’s first

major policy address as governor, 70th District Assemblyman John

Campbell said.

“I think it was an excellent speech and I think given the very

difficult task the governor faces, I think he made me and everyone

feel good that we have a lot going for us in this state, and that he

can help lead us out of this problem,” Campbell said.

Not everyone was impressed with the half-hour address.

“It’s about what I thought he would say, it was just a rah-rah

speech,” said local Democratic candidate Carl Mariz, who is running

for the 70th assembly district seat.

Schwarzenegger said he plans address is the 2004-05 budget. The

state faces a $14-billion deficit, but the governor vowed not to

raise taxes.

Spending cuts are necessary and everyone must do their part, he

said. Schwarzenegger plans to streamline government, abolish boards

and commissions that are no longer relevant and modernize the state’s

purchasing program -- though he didn’t elaborate on what will be

eliminated.

The governor also said he’ll give local school boards more control

over how they spend their state money, increase per-pupil spending

and limit college tuition increases.

The speech didn’t give specific information about the budget ,

which will come out Friday.

“The themes were clearly no tax increases, improve the business

climate, sell California and reduce spending and waste,” Campbell

said.

Schwarzenegger gave legislators until March 1 to deliver a

proposal on worker’s compensation reform, or he’ll take his solution

to the November ballot.

“The key to getting California’s fiscal house in order is

retaining business in California.... Clearly he’s focused on the

business climate in California, restoring our economic climate,” 68th

District Assemblyman Ken Maddox said.

Mariz described the governor’s address as “long on rhetoric and

short on specifics.”

Mariz said he liked Schwarzenegger’s comments on education and

most of what he said about the environment, but he doesn’t think the

bond issue and spending cuts will solve the state’s financial mess.

“Let’s face it, he has to increase something to pay for this

stuff,” Mariz said.

UC Irvine political science professor Mark Petracca didn’t expect

details from the governor’s speech.

“It makes sense for him politically to specify as little as

possible,” Petracca said.

State speeches should be important as a way for the executive

branch to set a legislative agenda, but that usually doesn’t happen,

he said.

“The real impact of the speech, if any, comes not from the speech

itself but from what the press then decides to report,” he said.

* ALICIA ROBINSON covers business, politics and the environment.

She may be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at

alicia.robinson@latimes.com.