SACRAMENTO — Republican state Sen. Tom McClintock recalls a meeting with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger one year ago. The veteran Thousand Oaks lawmaker tried to warn the governor that he was traipsing down the same deficit trail as his recalled predecessor.
In fact, McClintock cautioned, Schwarzenegger's path was even more risky than that of Gray Davis.
McClintock showed the governor a chart he had drawn. It illustrated that spending under Davis had increased an average of 7% a year. Under Schwarzenegger, it was climbing at a 10% rate. Similarly, he pointed out, the deficit -- the billions being spent over the revenue coming in -- was larger than under Davis.
According to McClintock, the governor replied: "That is bad news that people don't want to hear. People want to hear only good news.
"I don't want to hear pessimism. I'm an optimist."
Optimism is one of Schwarzenegger's charming traits. But optimism can be dangerous for someone in denial -- as this governor always has been about red ink.
Last January, Schwarzenegger was prematurely announcing the death of deficit spending.
On Tuesday, the governor finally began delivering the bad news in his State of the State speech to the Legislature. There's a $14-billion gusher of red ink expected during the current and next fiscal years, he conceded.
"For several years, we kept the budget wolf from the door. But that wolf is back," he said.
The only one who seemed surprised was the governor. It was like he hadn't been looking out the window.
The gruesome details will be told today, when Schwarzenegger unveils his proposed budget for the fiscal year starting July 1. Hardest hit are expected to be the most needy, but he promises to whack virtually everyone.
"It's the 'Sweeney Todd' budget," says Democratic Sen. Sheila Kuehl of Santa Monica, referring to the movie starring Johnny Depp as the 19th century "Demon Barber of Fleet Street," a serial killer. "The budget will be a protracted blood bath. Everyone gets their throat cut and dumped in the basement."
It was a fitting day for a speech that may have sounded like a horror movie. Rain poured, winds howled, windows rattled.
Legislators looked glum, rarely applauding the governor and then only politely.
