California needs Arnold Schwarzenegger to fix the disaster that
Gov. Gray Davis has caused with his fiscal irresponsibility during
the last five years. Instead of representing special interests as
Gray Davis has done, Schwarzenegger will represent California
citizens with a focus on fighting increases in taxes, promoting
business development and supporting education and educational
services.
Even though one of his economic advisors, Warren Buffet, naively
stated property taxes are too low, Schwarzenegger is an advocate of
Proposition 13, which fixed property taxes at lower levels to
ensure that retired or low income individuals could retain their
homes. UCLA students who rent should especially appreciate
Proposition 13 because if not for this historic initiative, the
high property taxes would be passed on to the renters.
Additionally, California’s lower property taxes are an
incentive for educated residents to remain in the state.
Arnold Schwarzenegger vows to continue fighting taxes in
California. Gov. Gray Davis abused his power when he raised the car
tax by 300 percent. Many believe such an action should have
required a two thirds majority vote of the legislature.
Californians need a compassionate governor who cares about the
average citizen and won’t place such extraordinary burdens on
people who cannot afford them. For example, thousands of commuter
students have enough to pay for with the 30 percent increase in
student fees ““ another catastrophe caused by the current
administration in Sacramento. Schwarzenegger says he will
immediately repeal the car tax.
Taxes are high everywhere in California as well. High taxes
drive businesses out of California and into states like Nevada and
Utah where taxes are much lower. Since the cost of doing business
here is 32 percent higher than the rest of the nation, many
businesses choose to leave. And when businesses leave, they take
away jobs and the state loses revenue from taxes.
Schwarzenegger will bring back California’s competitive
advantage by creating incentives for businesses to stay here. For
example, he proposes to reform the burdens that plague the system
such as high workers’ compensation insurance costs, and
frivolous lawsuits.
Schwarzenegger has made fiscal responsibility a top priority. He
recently formed the Economic Recovery Council, co-chaired by Warren
Buffet and former Secretary of State George Shultz, in order to
“develop an agenda to rebuild the California economy and
create jobs,” according to Schwarzenegger’s Web site.
Since 1998, the state has grown 21 percent, revenues to the state
have increased 28 percent, but state spending has increased 36
percent as reported by the Los Angeles times. Schwarzenegger will
correct the state’s spending binge brought on by special
interests by saying no to new spending and by cutting wasteful
spending.
For example, to ensure the disaster that Davis created never
happens again, Schwarzenegger says he will work to have a state
constitutional spending cap tied to population growth and
inflation.
Furthermore, he will have an independent audit done to closely
analyze how serious the state’s economic problems really are
and to determine what programs should be cut.
Finally, Schwarzenegger plans to invest heavily in education.
California is the biggest spender in education, yet we see some of
the poorest results because the money isn’t reaching the
classroom. The UC system, for one, will benefit greatly from
Schwarzenegger’s fiscally conservative policies. He promises
not to increase student fees in order to pay for the state’s
economic woes.
Furthermore, Schwarzenegger plans to drastically reform K-12
education in California by building much-needed schools, hiring
more teachers and creating more after-school programs so children
can stay in a safe environment while their parents are at work.
Instead of raising taxes to pay for these costly policies,
Schwarzenegger’s plan is simple: First, cut the wasteful
spending the state government attaches to education spending.
Second, slash the money that goes to the bureaucracy and place it
in the classroom where it belongs.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is the only candidate who will be able to
stand up to the ultra-liberal Legislature in Sacramento and demand
fiscal reforms to improve the state ““ while also being more
successful than Davis at working with the Bush administration to
receive more benefits for California. If the Legislature chooses to
oppose Schwarzenegger, he will use the bully pulpit and take his
campaign directly to the people. California doesn’t need a
man with decades of experience to solve its problems; California is
hurting for a person like Arnold Schwarzenegger who has a positive
vision and exhibits the strong leadership to enact it.
Gordon is a fourth-year communication studies
student.