Schwarzenegger's reform package

There have been (and will be) a number of stories outlining the horrible impact of Schwarzenegger's "reform" package, which will be on the ballot later this year. Right now, you can't ask for a better summary than this editorial in the San Diego Union-Tribune -- usually a rather conservative publication.

Even worse, the initiative endangers virtually every county health program, including trauma centers, public health clinics, childhood immunization programs, infection control and indigent care – one reason the California State Association of Counties has circulated a memo warning of a "severe fiscal impact on counties."

Schwarzenegger's record of vetoes, including bills to facilitate the import of affordable prescription drugs from Canada, require private insurers to cover prenatal and maternity care, protect uninsured patients from exorbitant hospital charges and raise the minimum wage, illustrates the reason for apprehension.

All of which is likely to pass, regardless of the actual vote tallies, now that California seems doomed to become yet another Diebold-friendly state.

Other provisions of this ballot measure indicate that Schwarzenegger operates under the presumption of a continued G.O.P. stranglehold on power, despite his own ebbing popularity. (His disapproval rating has come parlously close to 60%.) For example, the measure would transfer redistricting power from the Legislature to a panel of retired judges -- who all happen to be Republican.

Worse, the measure's proponents engage in familiar rhetorical tricks about campaign reform. Political contributions from unions are considered an infringement of workers' rights, while massive contributions from corporate heads are protected.

Similarly, the union dues initiative is hardly about protecting the rights of individuals; the authors are not asking your phone company or utility to get your written consent for their political contributions.

The initiative ignores the much greater spending by large corporations and extremely wealthy individuals – such as San Diego Chargers owner Alex Spanos, a major donor to Schwarzenegger. The top 100 donors to Schwarzenegger averaged $220,000 each. How many individuals can match that to be heard in Sacramento? Real reform of our corrupted electoral process would remove all money, creating a level playing field, such as the public financing, clean-money programs now in place in Arizona and Maine.

Instead, this proposal is intended solely to shut public employees and their unions – the foremost adversaries of Schwarzenegger and his corporate allies – out of the political process.

The state G.O.P. plans to spend ultra-mega-bucks to get this "reform" package passed. The fix is in.

Well, you know my motto: "If it's fixed, break it." For information on how to do just that, start here.