Arnold Schwarzenegger has talked a good game about ending "crazy deficit spending" for five years, but he's been curiously unwilling to confront the Legislature over the state's hopelessly tangled budget.
Belatedly, however, Schwarzenegger may be discovering his inner action movie hero, declaring "enough is enough," vowing to veto the ill-conceived budget that lawmakers approved early Tuesday morning, demanding big changes, and even threatening to reject "hundreds of bills" unrelated to the budget if the Legislature overrides his veto.
It sets up a historic confrontation between the governor and legislators of both parties who have, it would appear, set aside their ideological differences long enough to muster two-thirds votes for the first veto override in nearly 30 years.
With legislative leaders lining up behind the override – a reflection of the governor's almost zero influence in the Capitol – it could occur as early as Thursday. If it happens, it will touch off an exchange of political bombs and extend the record-long political stalemate over how to close a $15.2 billion deficit for at least a few days.
Schwarzenegger declared that the legislative budget, which relies heavily on billions of dollars in "acceleration" of tax payments from individuals and businesses, "takes our problem and even makes it worse" by failing to permanently balance income and outgo. He's also peeved that the Legislature refused his demand for tight controls on a special budget reserve aimed at easing future revenue shortfalls.
"I will not sign a get-out-of-town budget," the governor declared Tuesday, just 13 hours after the final legislative vote. "This is the year to fix it."
Schwarzenegger had proposed a temporary sales tax, but his fellow Republicans balked at that, as well as a more extensive income tax increase proposed by Democrats. That led to brief weekend negotiations among legislative leaders and what they described as a compromise.
The governor didn't specify what changes he wants, other than stronger language on the "rainy day fund," but implied that he still wants some new taxes, terming the legislative approach as "a tax increase with a smokescreen on it."
So the impasse, already months old, will continue. Those who depend on state payments, such as nursing homes, will keep twisting in the wind. This is uncharted territory, and absolutely no one can predict the outcome.
The overarching irony of the situation is that if Schwarzenegger had shown this kind of backbone five years ago, he wouldn't have such a whopping deficit today. He should have reneged on his foolish promise to reinstate a multibillion-dollar "car tax" cut and he should have been much tougher on Democrats over spending in his first year.
Later is better than never, one supposes, but we still don't know whether this burst of political courage is real and permanent, or just another hollow gesture, another line in the sand that will be erased by tomorrow's tide.
Call The Bee's Dan Walters, (916) 321-1195. Back columns, www.sacbee.com/walters.
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