SACRAMENTO — A chastened Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger extended a conciliatory hand Tuesday to California lawmakers, as a new opinion poll showed that voters dislike the governor nearly as much as the highly unpopular Legislature.
At a Capitol news conference the governor called to spur negotiations on the overdue state budget, Schwarzenegger acknowledged that the public was upset by the bickering between him and his Democratic opponents over a policy agenda he unveiled in January.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Thursday June 23, 2005 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 54 words Type of Material: Correction
Governor's performance -- An article in Wednesday's Section A about the ebbing popularity of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said he took office after unseating a governor for only the second time in U.S. history. It should have said he took office after the recall of a governor for only the second time in U.S. history.
"All of us in this building can share blame -- all of us, including myself," Schwarzenegger said. "People make mistakes sometimes, and I think we learned there was a very clear message that we must work together. I am looking forward to that. The people ... feel good when things work well."
A Field poll released this week showed that 58% of all Californians disapprove of Schwarzenegger's job performance and 31% approve -- about the same point that former Gov. Gray Davis had reached after three years in office. Schwarzenegger came into office 18 months ago with soaring public approval ratings, after unseating a governor for only the second time in U.S. history.
Among registered voters, 53% disapproved of Schwarzenegger's job performance. The Democrat-dominated Legislature didn't fare well, either: The poll showed that 57% of registered voters disliked its performance, and 24% approved.
Legislative leaders, who last week dropped many of their objections to Schwarzenegger's proposed state budget, appeared willing Tuesday to compromise further to ease political tensions that have led to virtual gridlock in Sacramento.
"If there is one thing we all need to do, it is humble ourselves," Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles) said at a news conference that followed Schwarzenegger's. "All of us. It is not good for us. It is not good for the governor. We all need to take a step back."
Republican lawmakers and Schwarzenegger remain opposed to the Democrats' version of the budget, because they believe that it commits the state to programs it cannot afford. Schwarzenegger is asking Democrats to trim about $1 billion from their $116.6-billion budget.
Schwarzenegger and the Legislature have been divided over a host of other issues as well. In particular, Democrats and the public employee unions that contribute heavily to their campaigns are upset about several initiatives on the Nov. 8 special election ballot that would significantly diminish their powers.
