The Governator has hit a new low and shown an even lower understanding of how to weather a recession. Schwarzenegger says he will sign what could be one of the most asinine and ill fated executive order I've ever seen. Juliet Williams of the AP has the story and the Governor's plan:

...eliminate about 22,000 temporary, part-time and contract workers and impose a hiring freeze because of the state budget impasse.

The order also would stop most overtime and allow him to roll back salaries for nearly 200,000 state workers to the federal minimum wage of $6.55 an hour.

Wow AAhnald, that's your answer to a stalled budget process? Threatening 200,000 hard working state employees and killing student and seasonal jobs just because you're frustrated with lawmakers being unable to reach a budget deal? I'm sure the newly made minimum wage workers are pretty upset as well, unfortunately they don't have people to use as bargaining chips like the Governator in his poker game with the legislature.

Let's take a look at the situation. Democrats have proposed a way to close California's $15.2 billion deficit:

They want to raise $8.2 billion by boosting taxes on the wealthiest Californians and corporations, and say another $1.5 billion can come to the state through an amnesty on tax scofflaws.

Seems reasonable to me. One would think the best thing to do if you disagree with something is to offer an alternative. That doesn't seem to be the case for California republicans:

Republicans oppose any new taxes but have yet to offer their own budget proposal, said Assembly Budget Committee Chairman John Laird, a Democrat. "It's time for the legislative Republicans to tell the public how they would balance the budget," he said.

Exactly right. Instead California Republicans have fallen into line with their leader in the governors mansion; disagree, complain, argue, kick and scream, but refuse to offer any alternative.

The Governor's plan does nothing but hurt even more Californians facing a bad economy and an even worse housing crisis. Playing with the lives of state employees to score cheap political points, its no wonder the Government is having such a difficult time trying to get a budget deal in place. But what should we expect from a Governor who has enjoyed yucking it up in front of the cameras more than being engaged in the budget process.

George Skelton wrote about this in the Los Angeles Times:

"I am a governor that does not believe that the action is in Sacramento and sitting around an office. That is not going to do anyone any good."

This may be true as it relates to dousing wildfires. But unfortunately, that's the Schwarzenegger governing style for virtually every problem -- whether healthcare, education or budgeting: Hit the road, stage the "town halls," perform for the cameras. Showboat.

Now yes, the Dems asked in June that he stay out of it, but he should have known better. Smart Governors know better:

"Getting the legislators to finish the budget without pressure from the corner office is like getting teenagers to come home early without a curfew," says Dan Schnur, former communications director for Gov. Pete Wilson and the new director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at USC.

Pressure from the Governor, or some shred of true leadership probably would have saved California from a lot of the turmoil they find themselves in today. Instead Californians got politicking in front of the camera, a failure to engage in negotiations until the situation was out of control, and now an embarrassing executive order launched as a scare tactic. Governor Schwarzenegger still doesn't understand. George Skelton does though:

All this compromising should have been concluded weeks ago -- at least by the July 1 start of the new fiscal year. No excuses.

There's more...

This is a proper smack down. He tells a climate summit gathering in LA:

"Politicians have been throwing around all kinds of ideas in response to the skyrocketing energy prices, from the rethinking of nuclear power to pushing biofuels and more renewables and ending the ban on offshore drilling, it goes on and on the list. But, anyone who tells you this will lower our gas prices anytime soon is blowing smoke."

http://thepage.time.com/2008/06/26/schwa rzenegger-mccain-crist-blowing-smoke-on- offshore-drilling/

There's more...

Awhile back there was some wild speculation that McCain stood a chance at winning Calf. this year, especially with Schwarzenegger supporting him.

There's more...

In today's single-payer update, new Senate Health Committee Chairman Ted Kennedy plans for universal health care, Bush Health Secretary Leavitt lies about it, state politicians in Washington and Maryland take timid steps while editorial writers across the nation (and Ohio and California activists) continue the drum beat for bold action.

Brought to you by the National Nurses Organizing Committee as we organize to make 2007 the Year of Single-Payer Healthcare.

There's more...

The love child of Rube Goldberg and Hillarycare, also known as Arnold Schwarzenegger's health care plan, continues to dominate the national health-care debates. Some background.

One day removed from the unveiling of this incredibly complex legislation, here's the single-payer analysis: if this behemoth is what's needed to keep the current health care system limping along, than the simplicity, elegance, and proven merit of a single-payer health care system becomes THE obvious alternative.  In other single-payer news, health care costs remain out-of-control, the Presidential candidates will have to make peace with universal health care, and voices in the states continue their push for single-payer.

Brought to you by the National Nurses Organizing Committee as we organize to make 2007 the Year of Single-Payer Healthcare.

There's more...