HomeUploadUpload DirectHotlinkRandomAbouttheme toggle

Arnold's Last Stand: How the Lame-Duck Governor Is Fighting for One Last Win Over Unions

Views: 875
For months, California has been a laughingstock state, unable to pass an annual budget, facing a declaration of "fiscal emergency," fighting over pay cuts and furloughs for government employees, threatening to issue IOUs to creditors. With a "framework" budget agreement expected to pass later this week, Reason.tv looks at why this long fight over a bloated budget may be good news for California's future.

The Golden State is facing a half-trillion-dollar shortfall in funding its pension commitments to public employees. But this year, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has fought the unions and lost many times, got the momentum on his side. As the public seethes over cuts to public services and excessive compensation to public employees, Schwarzenegger has used the budget negotiation as leverage to wring concessions from the Democrats and their patrons in organized labor.

The first steps toward reform have already been taken. Several government employee unions have agreed to less expensive contracts, and the budget deal reportedly includes the repeal of a 1999 law that drastically increased the unfunded pension burden on taxpayers. The termed-out Schwarzenegger won't be back. But the fight to get the state's pension crisis under control will continue.

Approximately 6:09 minutes.

Written and produced by Tim Cavanaugh. Shot and edited by Alex Manning.

Related: More Taxes or More Jobs? California Shows We Can't Have Both: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8bQDqe2NPo

Go to http://reason.tv for HD, iPod, and audio verisons, and subscribe to Reason.tv's YouTube channel to receive automatic notification when new content is posted.
@ReasonVidsfollow
Thumbnail for Filmmaker Michael Covel on Broke: The New American Dream9:19
Filmmaker Michael Covel on Broke: The New American Dream
ReasonVids
954 views
Thumbnail for Ladies, We're Screwed: Why Obama's Re-election is Bad for Choice2:17
Ladies, We're Screwed: Why Obama's Re-election is Bad for Choice
ReasonVids
857 views
Thumbnail for Taking Politics Out of Transportation: Economist Bruce Benson on Private Roads6:33
Taking Politics Out of Transportation: Economist Bruce Benson on Private Roads
ReasonVids
930 views
Thumbnail for Remy: It Wasn't Me (Shaggy Parody)1:28
Remy: It Wasn't Me (Shaggy Parody)
ReasonVids
871 views
Thumbnail for Russian forces deliver more than 4 tons of humanitarian cargo to residents of Izyum district of Kharkov region Ukraine1:38
Russian forces deliver more than 4 tons of humanitarian cargo to residents of Izyum district of Kharkov region Ukraine
AOU
935 views
Thumbnail for Sex, Lies, Jazz: Feb. Reason Preview w Matt Welch and Kennedy3:02
Sex, Lies, Jazz: Feb. Reason Preview w Matt Welch and Kennedy
ReasonVids
959 views
Thumbnail for TYRONE EXECUTES A PLAN0:16
TYRONE EXECUTES A PLAN
AOUisgay
503 views
Thumbnail for Rep. Justin Amash: The Two-Party System Needs to Die29:21
Rep. Justin Amash: The Two-Party System Needs to Die
ReasonVids
993 views
Thumbnail for How Drone Kills Happen: "Eye in The Sky" Film Dramatizes Techno-Moral Dilemma10:55
How Drone Kills Happen: "Eye in The Sky" Film Dramatizes Techno-Moral Dilemma
ReasonVids
865 views
Thumbnail for Stossel: Rand Paul on The Case Against Socialism5:30
Stossel: Rand Paul on The Case Against Socialism
ReasonVids
970 views
Thumbnail for Veronique de Rugy Tells the Truth about Taxes & Entitlements4:12
Veronique de Rugy Tells the Truth about Taxes & Entitlements
ReasonVids
793 views
Thumbnail for 3 Reasons Obama's Education Vision Deserves an F2:42
3 Reasons Obama's Education Vision Deserves an F
ReasonVids
921 views
Thumbnail for FDA vs. Modern Medicine: Q&A w/ Peter Huber9:49
FDA vs. Modern Medicine: Q&A w/ Peter Huber
ReasonVids
854 views
Thumbnail for Biting the Hands that Feed Us: Food Laws vs. Culinary Reality10:08
Biting the Hands that Feed Us: Food Laws vs. Culinary Reality
ReasonVids
912 views
Thumbnail for The Whitest Kids U'Know Season 5 Episode 1022:33
The Whitest Kids U'Know Season 5 Episode 10
wkuk.topic
444 views
Thumbnail for Gov. Gary Johnson Among the Occupy Wall Street Protesters5:21
Gov. Gary Johnson Among the Occupy Wall Street Protesters
ReasonVids
799 views
Thumbnail for Dashcam Tornado0:15
Dashcam Tornado
AOU
2079 views
Thumbnail for Tinashe - Nasty1:00
Tinashe - Nasty
Djlisa
147 views
Thumbnail for Russ Roberts: Adam Smith's Surprising Guide to Happiness (But Not Wealth)1:00:31
Russ Roberts: Adam Smith's Surprising Guide to Happiness (But Not Wealth)
ReasonVids
775 views
Thumbnail for Are Vegetarians Healthier than Omnivores? A Soho Forum Debate1:31:38
Are Vegetarians Healthier than Omnivores? A Soho Forum Debate
ReasonVids
641 views
Thumbnail for Jet Pack Ruiners, Toy Gun Grabbers, Eco ATM Luddites (Nanny of the Month, 7-14)1:33
Jet Pack Ruiners, Toy Gun Grabbers, Eco ATM Luddites (Nanny of the Month, 7-14)
ReasonVids
768 views
Thumbnail for Canada's Emergent Libertarian Movement6:02
Canada's Emergent Libertarian Movement
ReasonVids
826 views
Thumbnail for Untitledfg7676t67t6t86t87-12:19
Untitledfg7676t67t6t86t87-1
AOUisgay
397 views
Thumbnail for Throwing Down with The Lost Sisterhood: Amazons, Academics, and Adventure11:57
Throwing Down with The Lost Sisterhood: Amazons, Academics, and Adventure
ReasonVids
905 views
Thumbnail for Feds vs. Raisins: Small Farmers Stand Up to the USDA7:12
Feds vs. Raisins: Small Farmers Stand Up to the USDA
ReasonVids
909 views

points

Permalink
Reply
reason.tv, reason.com, reason.org, reason foundation, reason magazine, california, pensions, government unions, armold schwarzenegger, tim cavanaugh, alex manning
TOS  •  Add Keywords  •  Donate  •   Analytics  •   DMCA  •   Puzzle