Now is the time for Republicans to claim a victory in the defeat of the Proposition 1A tax increase, and learn a lesson to begin the resurgence of our popular appeal in California. State Senate Republican Leader Dennis Hollingsworth, and Assembly Republican Leader Sam Blakeslee, now have a choice of a lifetime in politics: they can actually lead, and exercise their offices to set the future of our party on a path to broader victories statewide. Or they can blow it all, let the Democrats dominate the agenda once more, and allow for more of the same unforced errors leading to "circular firing squad" opportunities against Republicans by opportunistic radio personalities.
On Tuesday, Californians resoundingly rejected the Democrats solution to our state budget crisis: tax increases. California taxpayers demonstrated they are sick of taxes and spending. While the politicians in Washington and Sacramento consider the next bailout measures, the citizens of California took control on Tuesday and gave themselves the only bailout they could – a tax cut. They did it themselves, with the opposition of their Republican governor, without the full support of Republican leaders, and without the support of much of the business community. And in so doing, the people ironically reflected their confidence in the core Republican values of smaller government and less spending, values that our Republican leaders just could not fully embrace themselves in the election.
The lesson here for Republican leaders is unqualified: you can win in California simply by being Republicans. In the looming budget crisis ahead, there is little question of what you need to do not only to fix California, but to reconnect with the base, and broaden the base of our party through leadership: cut more taxes, cut more government spending.
When Democrats talk about the hard choices that need to be made, they don’t really mean it in a nonpartisan manner. They mean they have hard choices to make to fix the budget. But these choices should now not be so hard for Republican leaders to make after the votes are in on Proposition 1A. All you have to do, Senator Hollingsworth, and Assemblyman Blakeslee, is be the Republican elected officials your constituencies expect you to be!
The key to cutting government spending in California is education. Education spending must be drastically cut in California. 85% of education spending in the state goes for salaries of members of the California Teacher’s Association. The CTA is a union that has excessive influence in California government – with the Democrats. The CTA is a huge part of the systemic problems with the California budget. The problem with California and the CTA and their avid protection of bloated salaries for teachers is comparable to the failure of auto executives over the decades to stand-up to the United Auto Workers and demand rational pay rates from the union. Now the auto industry is in a shambles because of these errors of judgment of auto executives and an aggressive union demanding irrational pay and benefits. So too is California — except that California cannot simply declare bankruptcy and cancel union contracts. The politicians in Sacramento are the only people that can change education spending — by not giving the CTA the money in the first place. This may be a hard decision for Democrats, but it should not be a hard decision for Republicans…….it is from a values standpoint ,the right thing to do.
Politically, in the past Republicans have feared political backlash in taking on the CTA. Faced with a well-funded union political action committee tied-in directly through consultants to the opposition Democrats, Republicans have felt the political pain of the "do it for the kids" advertising that in past has worked for the union and always seems to rebound to the benefit of the tax-and-spend crowd. But California teachers, ranked among the highest paid in the nation, produce close to the lowest educational results in the nation for our children. There is very little "bang for the buck" in the California educational system. The election today changes the "do it for the kids" zeitgeist. Politically, all Republicans need to do to demonstrate their "compassion for the kids" is learn from this election, take the mood of the electorate and run with it. They should expose examples of bloated union retirement packages and the extensive benefits older teachers in the system enjoy to demonstrate to Californians that greedy union leaders and members are paid well more than the average Californian for little results; and that CTA is indeed the most responsible entity for "keeping money out of the classroom." Republicans should show that there is no correlation between higher teacher salaries and benefits and better test scores in California, they should demand the hiring of younger, less expensive teachers who possess knowledge of newer learning techniques that could help raise test scores; they should aim to increase the amount of money "actually spent in the classroom," restore symbolic inexpensive but discontinued programs popular with parents like art and music, for example, by taking it all out of the hide of the teachers union and its senior members.
Republicans should also fight for new revenue sources that would both promote our economy and provide broad general tax relief to Californians. Now is the time to work to open far offshore out-of-sight drilling for oil. Such a policy would help in so many ways: it would help revitalize our economy, it would help ease energy needs, and it would create a whole lot of cash for Californians in the form of oil concession fees. Do it according to the best available "green" technology. And do not be afraid of the extreme environmentalists! Be leaders, Senator Hollingsworth, and Assemblyman Blakeslee!
A word about our Governor. I disagree with some of our Governor’s policies but I admire the fact that he has tried very hard to fix California, and has not been afraid to stake his original good reputation on doing so, even in the face of repeated failure. His first series of propositions in a special election early in his term reflected conservative values, and they were all rejected by voters. He got a black eye. The propositions he supported to fix California on Tuesday reflected liberal values, and they were all rejected. He got another black eye. Putting aside the politics of it all, what other Governor of California has ever tried as hard to get something (anything!) done in Sacramento as Arnold? As I said, I disagree with the Governor on issues, but I truly admire him. He perhaps has not been completely effective, but he has been a gutsy, action-oriented Governor, no doubt.
And now he is a more unpopular Governor near the end of his term. But it would be a mistake for Republican leaders to not seize the initiative and renew their relationship with Arnold. He reads polls; he understands elections. And he knows he has a legacy that still remains to be established. Senator Hollingsworth and Assemblyman Blakeslee, your legislative power on the budget and taxes, your ability to block the Democrats on both, and the Governor’s power of veto combined, give Republicans most of the leverage they need, combined with popular sentiment, to really cut government spending. You need to open more doors to the Governor, and vice versa.
Put differences on social issues behind you for now. Legalizing marijuana does not belong in a discussion about fixing California’s budget. There will be plenty of opportunity in future for that debate. Forget about those issues for now, everybody! Join hands to cut spending drastically! In so doing, you will not only fix California, you will help fix the Republican Party.