Governor’s propositions get mixed reviews
The most contentious issues on today’s ballot have split the members of the Santa Monica City Council, according to a Monday poll.
While some favor Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s budget recovery plan — put forward as Propositions 57 and 58 — others expressed serious reservations about the proposal, which would let the state borrow $15 billion to help it climb out of debt.
Members of the council reached a consensus on other matters. All of those polled said they hoped to see President George W. Bush ousted in November. Asked which contender was most appealing, some declined to comment and others said they would make a decision today.
“I’ve been giving it a lot of thought and I still haven’t made my mind up,” said Mayor Richard Bloom, a registered Democrat. “I’m very confident... looking at either (Sen. John) Kerry or (Sen. John) Edwards, in being able to win an election against George Bush. And as far as I’m concerned, that’s what matters.”
No matter which way today’s election goes, Santa Monica is sure to be in the national spotlight. Scores of news vans and reporters on Monday began setting up downtown to cover the election night returns. Gov. Schwarzenegger and State Controller Steve Westly, who has campaigned vigorously on behalf of the propositions, will be at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel on Wilshire Boulevard tonight.
Pundits have said the election will serve as a referendum on the popularity of Schwarzenegger, who may have tied his chances of reelection to the proposals because he will be forced to make severe cuts if the propositions don’t pass.
Bloom, along with City Councilmen Ken Genser and Kevin McKeown, expressed serious reservations about Schwarzenegger’s propositions.
“(Proposition) 58 is OK but 57 is a bond,” said Genser, a registered Democrat. “I cannot support the bond knowing that the governor gave back $4 billion in auto registration tax. I can’t see how. And it’s just wrong to borrow to cover debt. The thing they need to do is make changes... by cutting expenses and raising taxes, and I think a short-term tax increase would cover this debt, without us going back and paying more interest to borrow more money.
65C,“I think the Legislature needs to get serious about changing the balance between expenses and revenue,” he added. “That probably means restructuring commercial property tax and/or lowering the sales tax, but have it cover more services.”
McKeown — a Green Party member who said he will vote for Peter Camejo, a fellow Green, in the presidential primary — suggested wealthier families be required to pay more income tax. Currently, the wealthiest 1 percent of California families hand over just 8 percent of their income, while the poorest 20 percent pays more than 11 percent, he said.
“Putting the next generation into debt to cover our current operating deficit is just wrong... If all Californians paid a fare share of taxes, we’d have a surplus instead of a deficit. I suppose I should be relieved to be propositioned by the governor instead of just groped, but I have no desire to bond with Schwarzenegger. I’ll be voting no on 57 and 58.”
“... I have no desire to bond with Schwarzenegger. I’ll be voting no on 57 and 58.” — — KEVIN MCKEOWN Santa Monica City Councilman
Bloom said there needs to be serious discussion of alternatives.
“There is clearly more than one way for the Legislature to go and the governor to go, insofar as dealing with the budget issues in Sacramento,” said Bloom, who stopped short of saying which way he would vote. “Gov. Schwarzenegger’s plan is not the first plan out there. He decided on a plan that he was going to promote that eliminated tax increases and increased the amount of the bond and the term of the bond...
“There are all kinds of politics that are being played — some of them are good, some of them are bad,” he added. “But, I think, again, what is being placed before the voters is only one possibility.”
“I’m going to vote for it and hope that the state can repay the bonds with the ordinary income stream, and not turn around and tax us later,” Holbrook said. “I just can’t imagine us going to a massive layoff or throwing on some new taxes at this time. But if the economy doesn’t turn around, it’s inevitable that the layoffs will follow — or the California residents will be taxed more.”
Katz declined to elaborate on his “yes” vote.
City Councilmen Mike Feinstein, a Green Party member, didn’t return calls seeking comment. City Councilwoman Pam O’Connor, a Democrat, declined to comment on her vote.
All five councilmen polled said they would vote for Proposition 55 — a $12 billion school construction bond — as well as Proposition 56, which would lower to 55 percent the current two-thirds mandate for the Legislature to act on some budget issues.
Kevin McKeown
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 2, 2004. Read the original PDF.