Voters shot down all eight propositions on Tuesday’s special election ballot, striking a blow to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s bid to sidestep the Legislature by appealing to the people.
The defeat means business as usual in Sacramento, however dysfunctional, and could prompt the governor to seek deals with legislators.
“I will be back in Sacramento, working together with the Democrats to move our state forward,” he said.
Schwarzenegger said he planned to hold a “Big 5” meeting with legislative leaders: Senate President Don Perata, D-Oakland; Senate Minority Leader Dick Ackerman, R-Fullerton; Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles; and Assembly Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield.
“I’m going to leave for China on a trade mission right after that,” the governor said. “When I return from Asia, we will get down to business. We’ve got to rebuild our infrastructure. So much is needed. We need more roads, bridges, more schools, nurses, firefighters. We also need more bipartisan cooperation to make this all happen. Californians believe the state is on the wrong track. We need reform.”
Schwarzenegger, who campaigned for four initiatives as part of his government reform effort, was overshadowed by union spending that totaled more than $100 million.
The governor enjoyed majority support in Orange County, home to many of his biggest financial backers.
Results for Schwarzenegger’s four measures: Proposition 74, teacher tenure, was rejected by 54% of voters; Proposition 75, union dues, was defeated by 53%; Proposition 76, state spending limits, was rejected by 63%; Proposition 76, redistricting, was defeated by 59%.
Howard Fine of the Los Angeles Business Journal contributed to this story.
*For full proposition results,
read the full Reuters article.
