In a last-minute twist, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will miss his own special election today.
The governor flew to Washington, D.C., Monday night in order to appear this morning with President Barack Obama and other leaders to announce a change in the nation's automobile emission rules.
"Gov. Schwarzenegger has been leading the fight for California and 13 other states to regulate vehicle emissions," said gubernatorial spokesman Aaron McLear.
"(The) historic announcement will include a three-party agreement between California, the Obama administration and the automakers that not only allows California to regulate our emissions but also establishes a national standard."
The governor has also been leading the fight to pass six ballot measures that would help address the state's budget woes. Polls have shown that five of the six are in deep trouble with voters, particularly Proposition 1C, which would allow the state to borrow $5 billion from future California Lottery revenues.
McLear said that rather than vote at his traditional polling place near his Brentwood home, the governor planned to obtain an "emergency absentee ballot" and vote Monday.
An obscure section of state election law allows voters to request an emergency ballot if they are "unable to go to his or her polling place because of conditions resulting in his or her absence from the precinct."
The new auto standards expected to be announced would put stricter federal rules on greenhouse gas emissions and fuel economy, including an average of 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016. Schwarzenegger faced resistance for several years from the Bush administration when he sought a federal waiver for California to adopt stricter standards than those at the federal level.
The governor was expected to remain in Washington for a day or two to meet with congressional members and administration officials "regarding the drastic cuts proposed in his May budget revision," McLear said.
Last week, Schwarzenegger proposed two budget plans: one to deal with a $15.4 billion gap, if Propositions 1C, 1D and 1E pass, and a $21.3 billion hole if they fail.
Either way, the governor needs a federal waiver and congressional action to make as much as $750 million in cuts in state health programs that are partially funded by the federal government.
Call Kevin Yamamura, Bee Capitol Bureau, (916) 326-5548.
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