In the most prominent Arnold Schwarzenegger commercial attacking Phil Angelides, the Republicans show the Democratic contender for governor walking backwards.
Implied in this message is that the Democratic contender for governor, Phil Angelides, will take California back to a worse time. If you look closely at records of both these candidates in public life, it is ironic that it is Gov. Schwarzenegger who in fact is taking the state of California backwards with his legislative policies. It is time to look at the real records of both these men.
Gov. Schwarzenegger claims to be the "education governor," yet his record on education receives a failing grade. He said he would restore nearly $3 billion in funds to our public schools in order for our education system to make important investments in its future. After the election, he failed to keep his promise. The governor claimed he would never raise the community college fees more than 10 percent. In fact, the fees since Arnold Schwarzenegger become governor have risen an astounding 44 percent. He has cut out nearly 22,000 students who now cannot afford to go to college. Does this sound like a governor who wants to take the state forward?
Phil Angelides, the man shown walking backwards, is the person actually standing up to Gov. Schwarzenegger. As treasurer of California, Mr. Angelides became the first statewide officer to question the assumption that because of the California budget crisis, schools will have to suffer. He spoke out against the governor's destructive education policy and pushed Schwarzenegger to restore funding to the schools.
Phil Angelides also has supported school bond packages to build new schools and help teachers buy new homes, savings plans for families to save for college, and new revenue sources that could help new students enter college. The governor, who claims to be forward looking, vetoed that plan. As far as education goes in California, who is really walking backwards? Arnold has "flunked" his report card.
Another area in which Schwarzenegger claimed he has led California into the future is the protection of the state's environment. His record speaks otherwise. He has claimed to support renewable resources for the state's future, yet in 2004, he vetoed SB 1478, a bill which would have forced utility companies to generate 20 percent of their energy from renewable resources by the year 2010. In July 2006, Gov. Schwarzenegger petitioned the Bush administration to protect California's remaining roadless areas, yet previously the governor had supported President Bush's rape of the California environment, and had also coddled up to the California timber industry.
Under Treasurer Phil Angelides (the man who purportedly walks backwards), innovative proposals - such as making smart investments in green technology, cleaning toxic brownfields, buying cleaner automobiles in the state's auto fleet, and smart growth loans to develop locally sponsored environmental initiatives - have been made. He has also sponsored legislation to encourage production of hybrids and fuel efficient vehicles. Does this sound like a man who wants the state of California to go backwards?
Finally, since California has had the Bush-Schwarzenegger pack, the oil, drug and HMO industries have gained $556 million dollars a day, while a middle class family of four has had an annual out-of-pocket increase in its cost of living of over $4,000 per year. Re-electing this governor will only increase this split between the wealthy and the failing middle class in California. Phil Angelides will fight to bring all of California's people forward, not just the privileged few. It is Gov. Schwarzenegger who is moving California backwards. Don't be fooled by the glitz! Elect a governor of substance. Elect Phil Angelides and start moving California forward again!
