In 2008 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger had 1187 pieces of legislation sent to him by the Democrat-controlled state legislature. Much of this legislation was terrible – which makes sense when you consider that all of these bills had to pass muster with the liberals who run the State Senate and State Assembly. Virtually any Republican bill of any substance was killed somewhere in the legislative process, ensuring that only bills that grow the size and scope of state government reach the Governor’s desk.
That said, the Governor vetoed 415 of the bills, and signed 772 of them. Interestingly, the Governor’s veto percentage of nearly 35% is the highest of any Governor. In spending time going through a lot of the bills that the Governor did sign, and considering that previous Governors (of either party) signed a greater percentage than Schwarzenegger, it’s no wonder state government is so big and fat.
For a short period of time, Governor Schwarzenegger actually threatened to veto ALL of the legislation on his desk. This would have been outstanding – frankly, Californians could use a few years of no new bills to draw a line against growth in state government. That said, over at the Sacramento Bee’s Capitol Alert, they noted that the Governor placed the following note on 136 bills that he vetoed:
Governor Schwarzenegger signed six of the worst bills before him, vetoing the other fourteen. So in raw terms, that means that he nuked 70% of our list, giving him a letter grade score of “C”.
That said, because these are literally the 20 WORST bills in the legislature, it is terrible news that a Republican Governor didn’t score 100% and veto all twenty.
THE GOOD NEWS
- Despite the theoretical danger to Senator Abel Maldonado’s plane, Californians will still be able to purchase metallic balloons.
- Excessive government over-reaction to the sub-prime market was rejected.
- Criminal aliens still cannot legally obtain a drivers license and can’t use Mexican I.D. Cards at secondhand dealers and coin shops.
- The ability of criminal aliens at state universities and colleges to get financial aid is still restricted (maybe someday they will no longer get to pay in-state tuition rates).
- Single payer healthcare will remain the dream of the left, but will not be the law of the land.
- Attempts to roll-back cost-saving reforms of the Workers Comp system were rejected.
- A $490 million “Climate Change Institute” – that ultimately would have been paid for by YOU – was KO’d.
- Unemployment insurance will NOT be expanded to cover victims of drought.
- Restrictions on who can provide firearms training were rejected.
- Unions will not be able to coerce those who don’t want to unionize by taking away secret ballots.
- Employers can still decide if they want to retain someone who comes to work high on MJ.
- Communists still are not allowed to work in state government.
Government will now…
- Force a new regulation on chain restaurants, forcing them to list nutritional information.
- Criminalize texting while driving, begging the question of whether we should just outlaw stupidity.
- Buy overpriced “green” electricity and then pass the inflated costs onto… you!
- Force “smart growth” by restricting the freedom of property owners to build what they want, within reason, on their own property – in the name of fighting “global warming.”
- But wait, there is more – government will now force cities to divert funds intended for streets and highways, bike paths, buses and light rail – can you say social engineering?
- Finally — government will now play a more active role in encouraging euthanasia – can you believe that?
Check out the actual updated Top Twenty list here.