Clearing the Minefield

Posted: November 17, 2003

by PETER HANNAFORD

Clearing the Minefield

Besides working with the Legislature, the new governor must create an effective administration dedicated to implemeting his program.

Peter Hannaford is a member of the Schwarzenegger Transition Committee. His latest book is Ronald Reagan and His Ranch: The Western White House, 1981-89.

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It looks like a minefield ahead for Governor Schwarzenegger. On the day he is inaugurated he will inherit a budget deficit of $8 billion-plus. In January, the moment he presents his budget for the next fiscal year, his critics will pick it apart with tweezers. They will insist that whatever he proposes to do to get the state’s economy back on its feet simply can’t be done. Then there is the ever-present possibility that Davis holdovers in state government will quietly thwart his efforts to economize.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s life story is that of a determined man, and determination is a major ingredient of political leadership. He can clear the minefield, but he must move quickly. Here are some — but not all — of the things he should do right away:

• Set the tone at the Inaugural. Invite a lot of friends and supporters — all shapes, sizes, colors, and dispositions — but keep the event simple, straight- forward, and inexpensive. A simple public ceremony with a short speech, specific as to early actions, followed by a simple reception. Considering the state the State is in, no fancy ball and no lobbyist-laden pre-Inaugural fund-raising parties;

• Replacing Davis’s appointees. Your process of vetting personnel appointments is a good one and it is working, but it won’t be possible to replace all of Gray Davis’s “pleasure” appointees (that is, those who serve at the pleasure of the governor and not for fixed terms) prior to inauguration day. From those that remain, consider asking for undated letters of resignation; then use these to accept individual resignations as quickly as replacements can be made;

• Activate a real hiring freeze. Davis announced one with fanfare months ago, then proceeded to hire an average of 2,700 new employees a month. Make a real freeze effective from Day One, shrinking the state work force by attrition and leaving open slots unfilled;

• You have a mandate; make it plain every day. The Schwarzenegger vote exceeded the recall “no” vote (the Davis vote) and McClintock’s vote, combined with yours, meant that the Republican vote exceeded 62 percent, including large percentages of women, Hispanic, and black voters. That is a mandate for change, as you have said. Find ways to say it, one way or another, every date. The people voted against business as usual in Sacramento. Remind them that the Legislature must change if it is to be on the side of the people, as you are.

• Use the bully pulpit. Years ago, when Governor Ronald Reagan wanted to announce sweeping welfare reform proposals, the Legislature, controlled by the Democrats, refused to let him address a joint session. So, he went up and down the state giving speeches to spell out the plan. After awhile, the Speaker of the Assembly came to his office and said, “Stop those cards and letters, let’s negotiate,” and the two of them did. They hammered out a wide-ranging welfare reform program that passed.

As Reagan said later, “If I can get 70 percent of what I want from a hostile Legislature, which I did in this case, I’ll take it and come back next year for more.” You have already shown that you can effectively go over message “filters” and speak directly to the people. You can make it work, when it comes to policy and legislative programs, just as Reagan did. If the Legislature balks at sensible cost-saving reforms, threaten vetoes and take your case to the people. They’re on your side.

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