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The Governator Visits Roger (updated 11:00pm, Mar 3, 2005)© 2005. San Diego Radio News. All Rights Reserved. Please source sandiegoradionews.com in print (verbally if used on the radio) in exchange for redistribution of this story.Yesterday afternoon. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger drove all the way to San Diego in his open-top Hummer to visit Roger Hedgecock at the Clear Channel World Domination Headquarters in San Diego. Arnold's traveling in his Hummer to campaign for the reform measures came as a result of the governor's inability to get some of his changes through the state Legislature since he announced it in his State of the State Address in early January. The Governator, appearing with KOGO 600's Roger Hedgecock in a special outside booth just west of the building, wass courting visitors in the rear parking lot of CCSD during the three-hour broadcast to help his statewide campaign to put his agenda before voters in a special election this fall with an appearance in San Diego. Roger's show airs daily from 3-6pm. Arnold said on Roger's show that the reforms are necessary so that California doesn't get back into bankruptcy like it did two years ago. He also says about the statewide pension system that it's not fair to the taxpayers who are paying for the high amounts that could bankrupt the state. "What we are doing here is the private sector is paying for the public sector to have this gold-plated pension system that is going to bankrupt our state," Schwarzenegger said. "It is unfair to the people, to the hard working people of California, they are paying for it." Arnold wants 600,000 voter signatures on each of the four petitions that were handed out during the KOGO afternoon broadcast that would put new limits on state spending, cap state pensions, base teacher pay on merit rather than tenure, and revise how political districts are drawn. Arnold greeted several passers-by in their automobiles, getting their signatures, even some getting his signature, in the second half-hour of Roger's show. At 4pm, he left and made his appearrance on KIOZ's afternoon show around 4:30pm. Meanwhile, Roger had other guests on as well as going to the parking lot to greet some of the drivers and gather some of the signatures on the petitions. Opposition groups from education officials to nurses to labor unions lined up the sidewalks alongside 9660 Granite Ridge Drive where the CCSD building is located to demand the drivers not to sign the petitions. The San Diego Police Traffic Division made sure that none of the protesters or the crowded traffic got out of hand. Some of the drivers argued against the protesters, saying that they had enough of their taxes being wasted on them. There were no reports of things getting out of hand. Arnold stated on the radio show that as long as he's governor, the death benefits or disability benefits won't be taken away from the police officers or the firemen. Roger said on his radio show that traffic was backed up a mile back alongside Aero Drive, a main artery just north of Granite Ridge, and that Interstate 15 was backed up on both directions by traffic trying to get in to see Arnold and to sign the petition. 1,604 people signed at least one of the four petitions during the three-hour Roger Hedgecock Show radiocast. Other opponents of the petitions for the four reform measures include key political groups, labor unions, and the Democrats who control the legislature. 600,000 signatures on each of the petitions are needed by the end of April in order for the state reform petitions to be turned into statewide propositions that would be part of a special off-year election in November. Propositions are usually voted on during the Spring and Fall election dates on even years in California. They will be available at shopping malls and grocery stores around the state. Arnold continues that the state legislators wouldn't act on his four measures in the two months he has given them to act upon, and is moving to meet the people to help him fix the problems, saying it's the signatures that have the power to help fix California from going broke once again. About the redistricting plan, Arnold states that a panel of retired judges should be redrawing the district lines, saying that the voters should be selecting the representatives, not the other way around as it is today.
Earlier this week in Sacramento, Governor Schwarzenegger decried the legislature's failure to act on the reform proposals made in his State of the State address.
"Two months ago in my State of the State address I offered a package of reforms for California to overhaul the political, educational and financial institutions of our state. I declared 2005 the Year of Reform for California," the Governor said.
"Well, now it's March, eight weeks since my State of the State, and the legislators have done nothing to address my reforms. No counter-proposals, no special committees, no negotiations to build cooperation. Nothing."
Governor Schwarzenegger declared 2005 the Year for Reform and proposed much-needed changes to California's budget, education, pension and redistricting systems. The Governor will now begin to work with the people of California to enact these reforms.
Governor Schwarzenegger's Year For Reform
REFORMING THE BUDGET SYSTEM - Under the current budget system, the state will always spend more than it takes in, leading to perpetual deficits. The Governor has introduced budget reform that will avert the yearly budget battles and enforce fiscal responsibility.
BRINGING STATE PENSIONS INTO THE 21ST CENTURY - Public employees in California enjoy retirement plans far more generous than most Californians. Some are even able to retire with more than 100 percent of their final years' salary. The Governor has proposed moving new state employees to plans similar to the ones most Californians have - a plan fair to taxpayers and public employees.
AN END TO POLITICALLY-DRAWN DISTRICTS - Right now in California, politicians get to pick and choose their voters. Congressional and legislative districts have been gerrymandered by politicians to let incumbents keep their seats. This is not the kind of democracy that the voters deserve. Governor Schwarzenegger is pushing for political reform that no longer allows politicians to draw the boundaries of their own districts -- the ultimate conflict of interest.
STRENGTHENING EDUCATION - Governor Schwarzenegger is committed to strengthening California's schools. That is why education received the biggest spending increase in his budget - $2.9 billion. The Governor has proposed education reforms that 1. reward good teachers, 2. increase vocational education, 3. expand charter schools, and 4. show parents and taxpayers how their education dollars are spent.
The Governator will lobby Roger's listeners for his battle for reform in education and teacher pay and other issues.
On his radio show Wednesday, Roger wasn't comfortable at the mass flyering of the announcement that 2/3rds of the
Clear Channel World Domination San Diego Headquarters parking lot in the rear had to be clear of cars in order
for the crew to build platforms to accomodate the media covering the event
as well as Roger and Arnold. That alone didn't upset
Roger. What did was the fact that his name was tied to the mass produced flyers tieing his name to the announcement
that could upset the other CC employees into thinking that, in a few words, they're less valuable than Roger.
A few morning radio show teams on the FM side were upset at the flyer according to Roger on his radio show, but
when Roger was finally allowed to make the announcent about Arnold at 5pm, he figured that the CC crew would be
more understanding.
The petition signing drive-by will be held in the parking lot of the KOGO/Clear Channel studios, located just off of the I-15 and Aero. Where is the CCSD building at? It's 9660 Granite Ridge Road in Serra Mesa. The petition drive takes place between 3pm and 6pm during Roger's show. There is no parking, in fact, you can't park anyway as police will be sure that traffic moves smoothly as some of the in-car drivers just may sign a petition handed to them by Arnold himself.
You'll be back to sign the petitions. Some of you may be on San Diego TV, so get out some
business car tops and put them on your car, then drive through and hope you get a free plug! (evil grin)
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