Arnold Keeping COS, despite Repuke Threats
Posted on Tue, Jan. 24, 2006
Schwarzenegger says he's keeping Democratic chief of staff
JULIET WILLIAMS
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Tuesday that he isn't worried about losing the Republican Party's support as punishment for hiring a Democratic activist as his chief of staff, and he added that he doesn't know what all the fuss is about.
Schwarzenegger has come under fire from some conservative Republicans ever since he hired Democrat Susan Kennedy in the wake of his failed special election. Some Republicans plan to propose at their annual convention in San Jose next month that the party pull its endorsement of Schwarzenegger in the 2006 gubernatorial election.
The governor told a meeting of the Sacramento Press Club Tuesday that he was surprised by the furor, since he's always had Democrats on staff. He said he hires people based on talent, not party affiliation.
"Since I've come to America, nobody ever asked me who works for me. I always, at least 90 percent, even 100 percent of the people who work for me, were Democrats," Schwarzenegger said. "You know I married a Democrat. No one revolted, no one ran away and said he's a traitor, he's going to spend too much time with Teddy Kennedy now."
The governor said after six weeks, Susan Kennedy has proved to be "spectacular" and he has no plans to get rid of her. He said he'll lay out his agenda at the California Republican Convention in San Jose, and Republicans can choose to support him or not.
Mike Spence, president of the California Republican Assembly, a conservative wing of the state GOP, said the party has already seen his vision - and it's Democratic.
"He's been laying out his vision, that's the problem. His vision is the same, or worse, as Gray Davis," Spence said. "From Susan Kennedy to judges, across the board this governor has abandoned any notion that he's a fiscal conservative and has hurt the Republican party."
Kennedy has also come under fire from campaign finance watchdogs for doing double duty as his chief of staff and as a paid adviser to his campaign, including meeting with campaign donors. Schwarzenegger said it's important that his top adviser be included in both realms. He said he doesn't see a conflict.
"I think my wife and I contribute enough money to our campaigns that you could consider this money coming out of our share," he said.
But Assemblyman John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, said laws intended to separate campaigning from work paid for by taxpayers aren't flexible.
"We should not have conflict of interest laws based on your ability to pay. Really, if it's a conflict of interest it's a conflict of interest. The governor's campaign just really should not be run out of the governor's office," Laird said after Schwarzenegger's speech
He also criticized the governor for dodging sticky subjects and deferring on the issue of assisted suicide. Schwarzenegger declined to say whether he would sign a Senate bill on assisted suicide, saying something so important should go directly to the voters.
Schwarzenegger deferred to federal authorities when asked both about the war in Iraq and illegal crossings at the Mexico border. But he said he'll push the Bush Administration to deal with the border problem.
"I thought that today he mastered the mechanics of being governor: He was for forming a committee in a difficult situation, he was for kicking it to the voters if it was a tough thing, he was not for answering hypothetical situations, an amazing number of things turned out to be federal issues. So, I think he's mastering the context of not answering the question," Laird said.
Schwarzenegger continued to push his ambitious infrastructure proposal, which calls for $68 billion in special bonds to help fund $222 billion in new public works projects. He said things such as traffic congestion and levee repairs the bonds would fund affect Californians' quality of life.
Democrats are still worried that the governor's proposals do not include enough legislative oversight, and said it's unlikely the governor's entire package would be approved in time to get on the June 6 ballot as Schwarzenegger hopes.
Originally Posted by Kristy
Reply With Quote
