Few governors in the history of the state of California have
ever faced a political crisis as large and overwhelming as the
recall Gray Davis currently faces. The state of California is faced
with its second gubernatorial election in as many years. More than
a hundred candidates paid the $3,500 and collected the 65
signatures necessary to place themselves on the special ballot.
This recall is an egregious violation of the original intent of
the recall when first signed into law nearly 100 years ago. The
recall was established to enable the public to rid itself of
corrupt public officials. In the case of Gray Davis, however, no
crime was ever committed, and no public funds ever went
missing.
The recall is the undeserved outcome of the series of crises
that plagued the state in past years ““ crises that Davis did
not create. These crises, however, were exacerbated by political
obstructionism and as such, eventually eased the way for the
acceptance of the recall movement into the mainstream.
The California State Democrats attempted to deal with each
crisis in a fair, bipartisan manner. In all cases, the Democrats
tried to compromise with the Republicans. The attempts at
compromise were met with failure repeatedly ““ in every budget
crisis since the energy crisis two years ago, the Republicans have
been uncompromising.
For example, the energy crisis had its roots in the poorly
thought out proposition that deregulated the energy market in
California, a proposition that was enacted under a Republican
governor: Pete Wilson. But when it finally became clear that the
state needed to bail out the energy companies, Republicans
resisted, lengthening the crisis.
In the more recent budget crisis, Republican stubbornness meant
that the state was without a budget for 29 days. By refusing to
raise taxes, the Republicans nearly stalled the state in its tracks
and ultimately forced cuts to state services. This is highlighted
by the fact that the Republicans never once proposed a viable
solution to the revenue gap. The governor’s office proposed
three different versions of service cuts and selected tax increases
only to be rebuffed each time by the state Legislature.
Time and time again the Republicans have hidden behind the
mantra “no tax increases,” and in so doing, they have
blocked the budget from being passed on time.
It is surprising, however, that this is the case; the last time
a Republican was governor, the state Republicans forgot their
ideologies and passed the requested tax increases. They seem
willing to compromise when it suits them.
These crises were created by an obstructionist minority in the
Legislature, not by the governor. Remember that the obstructionist
minority blocked the budget from being passed by only three votes
in the state Assembly. It is strange that a staunchly Democratic
state could be at the mercy of a few, fanatical conservative
Republicans. Â Â
Shown in this light, the greatest crisis faced by the state of
California was not any single event ““ for example, the energy
crisis, the budget crisis, or the recall. The greatest crisis
facing California is the continued politicizing of the budget for
ideological gain. The Republicans refused to compromise; therefore
they should share the blame for the crises that have plagued the
state these last few years.
Governor Davis has faced these crises to the best of his
abilities given the situation. Neither he nor the state deserve
this recall.
However, there is still hope that the people of California will
see this recall for what it is: a political crisis orchestrated by
a few ambitious men who wish to overturn the true democratic
election a year ago. The recall is the outcome of the
obstructionist policies of a minority of the state legislature, not
because of high crimes and misdemeanors on the part of the chief
executive of the state of California.Â
Join me, and vote no on this tyrannical recall.
Corpuz is the external vice-president of the Bruin
Democrats.