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What's
All the Fuss about California's Governor?
The
news these days is full of talk about California and the
drive to recall its governor. Why is that?
Here are
some facts:
- California has a huge
budget deficit right now. Estimates show that the state
will have to come up with an extra $8 billion to pay for
all the expenses earmarked for next year's budget. That
means either new taxes or big cuts in spending.
 Governor
Gray Davis is wildly unpopular in the state, partly
because he hasn't done a whole lot to make himself
liked.- The budget that was
approved and ultimately led to the deficit problems that
exist now was passed by a divided Legislature, from which
both sides are taking this opportunity to blame each
other for the current mess.
- California law allows
for a state official to be recalled in between elections
if enough signatures urging recall are
collected.
- To get on this special
election ballot, people have to have collected only 65
signatures and have spent the $3,500 entry fee. For many
of the 135 people on the ballot, this is their only
chance to get to run for such a big office.
 One
of the candidates being talked about the most in the past
few weeks is actor Arnold Schwarzenegger. He is running
as a Republican but has some Democratic views. He has no
political experience but is thought to be a sound
businessman and a good salesman for educational and
physical fitness. Another
of the candidates getting lots of mentions lately is Cruz
Bustamante, who is now California's lieutenant governor,
the second most powerful position in the state.
Bustamante is a Democrat, the same as Gray Davis. Davis
doesn't exactly approve of someone from his own political
party running against him. If Bustamante wins, he will be
the state's first Latino governor.
The
results of a recent poll suggest that Davis just might
survive the recall effort after all. The same set of polls
shows that Bustamante would defeat Schwarzenegger if the
election were to take place in the current week or
so.
Does
California have a huge budget problem? Yes. Should Gov. Gray
Davis be removed from office for allegedly mishandling the
budget fiasco? That's what all the fuss is about.
The election is October
7.
Click here
for more information.
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