Arnold recall: Here we go again?

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who won election in the first recall of a California governor, has now become a target for removal himself.

The state's well-financed prison guards union, the California Correctional Peace Officers Assn., is initiating a recall effort against Schwarzenegger, a union spokesman said today. The governor and the union have been at odds for years; they have been unable to agree to a new contract for the guards, whose labor agreement expired in the middle of 2006.

The governor last fall invoked a rare provision of state law allowing him to unilaterally impose new working conditions on the union in the absence of a deal.

Lance Corcoran, a spokesman for the union, said the contract dispute has nothing to do with the recall effort.

"This is a governor that has done absolutely nothing," Corcoran said in an interview. "We have the largest budget deficit in the history of California. We have one of the longest budget stalemates."

The governor's office referred a request for comment to his campaign spokeswoman, who was not immediately available.

--Michael Rothfeld

Photo: Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[ArtRN]

I agree, the governor has not been seen for the last two years after he had been reelected, and now he resurfaces because of election, how come he did not say or did anything about the budget last year when it was delayed? Now he tries to show everyone how he stays on top it when it was already delayed (and a record breaking delay too). He used to be the Terminator, but now he is the major "Procrastinator".

[jake elwood]

Recall Recall Recall Govt. Arnold is out of touch with the people! Wake up!!! You were elected to get things done but this is the reality: (1) No budget
(2) you upset all state employees (3) you have no idea on what you believe in(4) you continue to think that your advisors are telling you the truth

I for one will gladly attempt to get as many people involved to get you RECALLED!
You need to talk to someone who is not paid directly by one! You have lost all touch to reality!

Jake Elwood

[bob]

Someone needs to replace Lance Corcoran. Look how uneducated he is. “"This is a governor that has done absolutely nothing," Corcoran said in an interview. "We have the largest budget deficit in the history of California. We have one of the longest budget stalemates."

Hello Lance Corcoran, the Governor does not have anything to do with the budget. All he does is sign it. The Legislator is one you should target, but I think you would have a hard time justifying a recall attempt on people who you have given money to. So you go after the Governor.

[dmh]

For once I find myself siding with the governor here... The corrections unions dominates politics and costs both society and the taxpayer money by continuing to incarcerate on a mass scale. The money for prisons is money that could be put to use in education, health care, or at the every least back in the taxpayer pockets. Good riddance to bad rubbish!

[Charlie Peters]

Should Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger consider a fee on corn fuel ethanol use?

* * Lower price for food, gas, water, beer, cleaner air and funds for the budget from oil profit.

[Martin Turow]

As a former California resident, I can say that California represents what is wrong with the US. Too many special interests all fighting for themselves and not caring what happens to anyone else. It seems to me that the Governor has done an incredible job in a state famous for powerfully entrenched interests. I hope the good people of California have the wisdom to see this recall for the political theater it is. The bottom line is simply this: California can't have it all and someone has to have the fortitude to rein it in. At least, the Governor is trying his best to reach a consensus in a place where virtually none is possible. It's an awful job and you should be thankful he took it. Find somebody else if you can, but I don't think they will be any better. California is doomed for collapse with all these self-serving groups.

[Corrections officer in California]

Arnold is a horrible governor. He tries to make people live on 6.55 per hour, Make him live on that, and see how good he feels!
It's time to get him out of there people!

He has no regard for public safety, he wants to cut pay of corrections officers, who are highly involved in public safety.
And who are law enforcement!

He has done nothing for California, except make it worse!
Join the CCPOA in getting the signatures they need! Call them and let them know you'll help, give Arnold the boot!

[JJ]

Idiot! Governor proposes a budget then legislature votes on it and if approved the governor gets one last chance to revise/veto and then signs it for approval

[G. Hudson]

Does anyone really understand how much money goes into the prison system and where? The majority incase you were wondering goes into the inmates well being. Yes thats right inmates, infact the feds have just ordered the state to put another 8 billion into inmate medical. Prison Guards who take the blame dont even make half the prison employees-remember there are medical staff, education staff, religious staff, and all the other liberal inmate lovers. Incase you didnt know the gov wants to pay the prison guards 6.55$ an hour- would you work with a rapist, child molester and murder everyday for that money. Also the feds are coming down on Arnold because he pesonally tried to reduce medicare until the budget gets passed, which he couldnt. That lasted for a couple of weeks leaving many without their meds. Anything Arnold presents to the legislature gets turned down, why? BECAUSE THEY DONT TRUST HIM! and neither should you. What has he done since taking over-nothing, the things he said he would fix-debt, late budgets, and so on-are worse than ever. Has education improved since he took over-no-(and he just reduced their pay to 6.55$ hour too, you think that teacher wants to go all out for your kids now). Crime has increased, debt has increased, cost of living is at an all time high, more people are out of jobs, I ask you want has this gov. done.
One last thing, remember the rolling black outs awhile back ago, well that was a cause of a choice made by our gov and leg in 96, bad idea right? Well you might like to know that in the last couple of years Arnold has pushed for that same choice to be tried again, but our legislature would not let it pass. Otherwise it would be dark in the classrooms and business again.
Also I know firsthand the recall is not only backed by the prisonguard union, but many others and that it has nothing to do with the fact they have been working without a contract since july of 06(Because Arnold refuses to negotiate with them for more than a totally of ten minutes, literally thats as long as they would talk-even though they have been court ordered to do negotiate)
I guess CHP deserves a 26% raise, lets not put that millions of dollars into education. RECALL

[G. Hudson]

Why are we defending someone with NO prior political time. He has countless times lied to unions of califonia and members of the legislature-Recall I say and vote someone in with some experience.