Can’t Make Correct Change

As the recall election drew to a close, then candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger made considerable hay of the fact that he wanted to change how business was done in Sacramento. As time went on, it was clear that he was intent on changing some aspects of how things are done.

“Holding his broom aloft, Schwarzenegger proclaimed: "The people of this state do not trust this government. They feel it is corrupted by dirty money, closed doors and back-room deals ... Now, however … Schwarzenegger's administration is calling for major budgetary cuts … [to] the only institutional watchdog outside of the press, the Fair Political Practices Commission.” (Bill Bradley in the Sacramento Bee, 6/6/04)

Those changes (some may call them “major cuts in regulatory agencies”) are starting to play themselves out.

“California's political watchdog agency has closed 225 cases since May without finishing the investigations, a victim of a nagging backlog and budget crunch …”

“The agency's budget was $6.6 million in 2000-01 and reduced to $6.1 million in 2004-05. The governor had proposed a $1-million cut for this fiscal year that began July 1 …” (Los Angeles Times, 10/18/05)

Are Schwarzenegger’s “changes” – allowing more scofflaws to go free – the kind that the people of the state of California signed up for?