Angelides Urges Schwarzenegger to Take a Stand on Anti-Environment Eminent Domain Initiative

SACRAMENTO, CA – California State Treasurer and Democratic nominee for Governor Phil Angelides today slammed Governor Schwarzenegger for continuing to duck and weave on critical issues facing the state.  Asked today by a reporter about Proposition 90, the anti-environment eminent domain initiative, Schwarzenegger thanked the reporter for reminding him because he "would have forgot" and made a none-too-courageous promise to continue "looking at all the different angles."

Reporter: I wonder if you've taken a position on Proposition 90?

Governor: No, but very soon. Because I'm looking at all the aspects, and it's a very complicated issue. And so I'm looking at all the different angles.  So....Thank you very much.  I'm glad you reminded me because I would have forgot.  Thank you.  Thank you very much.  Thank you.

Angelides has taken a clear position against Proposition 90, saying today:

"Proposition 90 would obliterate environmental protections in California.  It would devastate environmental protections.  It would undermine our zoning laws.  How can he (Schwarzenegger) not stand up clearly and unequivocally, and say he's not only opposed to it but he's going to campaign against it like I've been doing?"

Click here to listen to Angelides' comments today: www.angelidesshare.com/press/upload/20061024_PA_MediaAvail.mp3

As others pointed out today, this is part of a calculated strategy to hide from voters in the final weeks of the campaign. 

"With two weeks to go before the election, this can't be said often enough: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has no plan to balance the state's budget, or, if he does have a plan, he's not sharing it with the voters." ("Hiding the ball" Dan Weintraub, California Insider, October 24, 2006)

"Election Day is now two weeks away, and not only are there very few headlines being made in the race for governor, but the incumbent is running what amounts to a stealth campaign." (John Myers, Capitol Insider, October 24, 2006)