Finally--Schwarzenegger to Arouse Public on the California Budget

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

Theodore Roosevelt coined the phrase "the bully pulpit" to describe the platform that the U.S. Presidency afforded him to speak and be listened to by the folks that matter. He also advised on diplomacy to "Speak softly, but carry a big stick."

Just exactly how Arnold Schwarzenegger will play his role and use the powers of persuasion he has to get at least one more Republican state senator to vote for the California state budget so that it can pass and the other business of the state can be attended to, may be the coming attraction of the week. We've had a bit of a preview with the Governor himself writing an op ed piece, his Director of Finance (former staffer to the Senate Republican caucus!), Mike Genest,writing an article aimed at one of the holdouts in a paper in his district and also using the Govenor's weekly radio spot to highlight how the budget represents Republican values.

The Governor will start off the week in the district of Abel Maldonado, the lone Republican in the Senate to vote for the budget at an event to highlight how the budget has affected those dependent on Medi-Cal for their health benefits. It's a good sign to see him back in the state and finally focusing on the budget in a public way.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is not only the Governor of California, but he is a celebrity. He has the ability to command headlines and to be listened to by the people of California. Ultimately, it is the people of California, the voters in at least one of those Republican districts that will matter, and provide the switch needed.

So far, Schwarzenegger has been relatively silent on the budget. A number of stories in the press have started to comment on this, including today's Sacramento Bee.

We have heard from his office that he has been busily engaged behind the scenes on the budget. He had a meeting behind closed doors with the Senate Republicans. He has invited the legislative leaders to his smoking tent. But his reputation for bold action and grandiose ideas, honed in his movie roles and the persona he wants to project as Governor is now at stake and this impasse threatens the ability of the state to do anything new or bold on other legislative action, including health care. The San Jose Mercury News has this to say in this morning's editorial: