Bombast Backfires but May Help Get a Budget Approved

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s rough rhetoric may not have been counterproductive, contrary to conventional wisdom.

Certainly his “girlie men” description of Democratic legislators was insulting, crude and childish. Mostly, it was dumb.

These are the same lawmakers the governor must negotiate with, after all -- the people he periodically boasts of bringing together in a “bipartisan partnership.” So it did strain relationships when he called them “girlie men” at an anti-Legislature rally and said they should be “terminated.”

But the negative reaction from his misguided machismo seems to have kicked Schwarzenegger himself in the rear and spurred him to jump-start budget negotiations. The bombast worked, in an unintended way.

The governor found himself wallowing in deep muck and quickly realized that he’d better climb out before his image got further blemished.

A new poll by the Public Policy Institute of California, coincidentally, shows some slippage in Schwarzenegger’s job approval rating -- from 64% in May to 57% currently. The poll of California adults was taken before Schwarzenegger bellowed about “girlie men.”

On Tuesday, Schwarzenegger invited in lawmakers to resume budget negotiations.

The governor expressed regret about his weekend vitriol and let it be known he won’t be using that “girlie” remark again. Let’s put it behind us, he urged Democrats.

Schwarzenegger was firm with fellow Republicans, indicating he expects them to support whatever deal he negotiates with Democrats on local government funding.

Cities, counties and Republicans balked at an earlier, tentative agreement the governor had reached with Democrats, preventing passage of an on-time budget by July 1.

Republicans also have been trying to trade their potential budget votes for repeal of two Democratic-sponsored acts unrelated to the budget.

One is a “sue your boss” law that makes it easier for workers to sue employers for labor code violations.

The other is a law that restricts the ability of schools to contract with private firms for busing, repair and maintenance services.

The GOP became more willing to negotiate a compromise with Democrats on school contracting after it was disclosed that an out-of-state bus company -- one special interest Schwarzenegger never mentions -- was at the center of the repeal effort.

Indeed, the company, Laidlaw, had written the draft legislation for Republicans and hired a political strategist close to the governor.

Negotiations now seem to be progressing on all three fronts: local government, “sue-your-boss” and school contracting.

The budget itself, essentially, has been settled for three weeks -- at least between the governor and the Democratic majority in the Legislature.

And that illustrates a much larger problem in Sacramento than the occasional childish behavior of a governor or some legislators: The basic structure of California government is designed for dysfunction.

Start with the requirement of a two-thirds majority vote for passage of a budget. Only two other states, Arkansas and Rhode Island, require more than a simple majority. No wonder summer slam-fests have become common in Sacramento.

California’s two-thirds requirement was imposed during the 1930s Depression. But even then, a budget could be passed on a majority vote if its spending didn’t exceed the previous year’s by 5%.

That provision was erased unthinkingly during a mid-’60s constitutional revision. If the 5% clause were still on the books, a new budget could have been passed a month ago.

The two-thirds mandate is undemocratic and leads to tyranny by the minority.

Democrats hold a 25-14 majority in the Senate, but need two GOP votes to pass a budget. On Wednesday, Democrats tried to pass a budget and fell three votes short.

In the Assembly, Democrats dominate 48-32 and need six Republican votes.

Republicans have been holding the budget hostage for the two unrelated bills, but at least they’re fighting for substance. In the past, they’ve held out for plain pork.

California also is one of only 11 states that requires a supermajority vote for legislative passage of a tax increase.

A little tax tweaking two years ago and Schwarzenegger wouldn’t need to be borrowing $15 billion from our kids’ future to “balance” this year’s budget.

Unfortunately, a ballot initiative to lower the budget and tax vote requirements was gimmicked up by its sponsors and overwhelmingly rejected by the electorate in March.

There are other systemic problems in the Capitol: Closed primaries and self-redistricting by the Legislature, which lead to the election of ideological extremists.

Then there’s local government financing -- a Byzantine system that forces cities and counties to always have their hands out to Sacramento.

Local governments need more power -- and guts -- to raise their own revenues.

But the first reform must be the elevation of this governor’s public discourse. “Saturday Night Live” should not set the standard for political dialogue. What’s next -- politicians plagiarizing Howard Stern?

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George Skelton writes Monday and Thursday. Reach him at george.skelton@latimes.com.