California's Governor-Elect May Be Forced to Renege on 'No New Tax' Pledge

Interview with David Kaun, professor of economics at the University of California, conducted by Scott Harris

Mimicking the script of a predictable Hollywood melodrama, action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger came out of political obscurity to lead California's recall election campaign to replace incumbent Democratic Gov. Gray Davis from office. But after appealing for votes on a pledge to raise no new taxes and to repeal the state's new automobile tax, the multi-millionaire movie star confronts a state budget deficit that could total more than $20 billion by next year.

Upon becoming only the second governor in American history to win office in a recall election, the actor was congratulated by President Bush and called upon GOP Congressman David Dreier to lead his transition team. Throughout the abbreviated campaign, the Republican party has denied frequent accusations that it had engineered the recall election in order to gain advantage in the nation's most populous state for President Bush's 2004 re-election bid. Just weeks before taking office, Schwarzenegger and his supporters have not yet provided details on how they will address California's budget dilemma, beyond asking for a federal bailout from their Republican friends in Washington.

One bright spot for progressives in California's Oct. 7 election was the defeat of Proposition 54, which would have banned the state from collecting data on race and ethnicity to track demographic trends in such areas as education and health care. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with David Kaun, professor of economics at the University of California at Santa Cruz, who takes a look at the economic crisis that will confront California's new governor, and an economic crisis that has gripped most of the nation's 50 states.

Related links:

"Schwarzenegger's First Role As Governor-Elect of California: The Deregulator," by Jason Leopold, CommonDreams.org, Oct. 10, 2003

"Schwarzenegger Electricity Plan Fuels Fears of Another Debacle," by Zachary Coile, San Francisco, Oct. 10, 2003

"Arnold Unplugged - It's Hasta la vista to $9 Billion if the Governator is Selected," By Greg Palast, www.commondreams.org, Oct. 3, 2003

" California's Ominous Leadership Trend" by James Carroll, Boston Globe, Oct. 14, 2003

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"Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: www.btlonline.org
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