Is Governor Up to Job? Early Report Is In

We’ve learned some things recently about the new governor -- seen qualities that previously weren’t so evident.

First, Arnold Schwarzenegger has shown that he knows how to make a deal -- a deal with politicians and special interests.

Second, it’s clear that he’s not afraid to deal with improbable allies, potential adversaries whom experienced pols might not venture near.

That’s because this governor did not arrive in Sacramento burdened by old baggage packed with grudges, mistrust or ill will. Chalk it up to innate optimism, political naivete,

super self-confidence or

reading too many happy-ending scripts.

Whatever, he’s eager to bargain with anyone who offers votes or influence in the Capitol.

Unlike the last two governors -- career-pols Gray Davis and Pete Wilson -- Schwarzenegger does not have a hang-up, for example, about the California Teachers Assn. Nor does the CTA about him.

The governor put it this way Thursday at a middle school, where he announced an unprecedented budget agreement with education interests, including the powerful teachers union:

“What is really amazing is that everyone said to me when I got into this, during the campaign and after I was elected, you’re going to have a major problem with the education community. Wait [until] you get a hold of the CTA. They will never give you anything, and all of those kinds of things....

“I dealt with the CTA and the entire education community during Proposition 49 [his 2002 after-school ballot initiative]. I had the most spectacular experience then and I again had the most spectacular experience with these negotiations.”

He added: “People are always negative.... I’m very positive.... And I think that we can make things happen. I do not go for things that are impossible.”

Doesn’t aim for the impossible.

That’s a third thing we’ve learned about Schwarzenegger: He’s pragmatic, at least so far. He has settled for partial loaves, like Ronald Reagan did.

It would be virtually impossible to overstate the significance of the two big deals Schwarzenegger has cooked up in two months as governor.

The first agreement, breaking a legislative stalemate, was with Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson (D-Culver City) over a $15-billion deficit-reduction bond and a budget-balancing requirement. The Legislature placed both on the March 2 primary ballot.

That package was more to the Democrats’ liking than the Republicans’ -- more Wesson than Schwarzenegger. But it showed the governor’s pragmatism. The measures are essential to his success.

The education deal is especially important -- not only for K-12 schools and community colleges, but for strategic positioning in the budget battle.

Simply put, the deal affects 44% of the $76-billion state general fund proposed for the next fiscal year -- 33% of the governor’s total $99-billion budget.

The two sides agreed even before the budget was printed and sent to the Legislature. That’s unheard of in an era of serial gridlock.

Sure, the deal still must be approved by the Democratic-dominated Legislature, which was excluded from the talks. There’ll be debate and tweaks. But this pact has pulled the

rug out from under Democrats, who prosper politically by championing government’s most popular program, K-12 education.

It’s pretty hard to attack a governor for robbing school kids when teachers, administrators and parent groups are siding with the governor.

The agreement basically is this: The state owed the schools an extra $4 billion. They split the loaf. Schools get half now, the other half later. That’s enough to cover cost of living and enrollment increases next year and avoid a months-long fight. It lets the governor keep $2 billion temporarily to help make ends meet.

CTA lobbyist John Hein was impressed by Schwarzenegger’s negotiating style. Rather than both sides opening up with wish lists -- the common negotiating tactic -- the governor insisted they skip the game-playing and get right to it.

“It’s like, ‘Come on, let’s get real,’ ” Hein recalls. “ ‘Do we want to solve the problem or not? Let’s start close to where we need to wind up.’ ”

Another Schwarzenegger trait is that he’s focused. We’d heard that. Now we’re seeing it. He also knows what sells.

One example: That big chart Schwarzenegger held up during his budget announcement -- the photo shown on newspaper front pages all over California -- was his own last-minute creation.

Not satisfied with all the other charts, he ordered up this one showing his inherited debt and the consequences of not passing the deficit bond. Then on stage, answering a reporter’s question, he dug through the chart pile and lofted it for cameras. Click-click....

“Did you all get a good shot of me with the graph? I was waiting for your question.”

Look, there’s a lot to criticize about this budget. For starters, Schwarzenegger is asking for sacrifice from everyone except the rich. Eventually, he’ll need to get pragmatic on taxes and raise them on the most wealthy.

But this is only the first round.

We’ve already learned a fourth thing, the main thing about Schwarzenegger: He’s up to the job.