Aug 31, 2008 5:31 pm US/Pacific
Gov. Cancels GOP Appearance To Fix Budget Battle
LOS ANGELES
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While lawmakers remain deadlocked on the multi-billion-dollar deficit, taxes and other issues, the celebrity governor has said repeatedly he wouldn't attend the convention unless a budget deal is reached.
CBS
As he promised, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will not attend the Republican National Convention in Minnesota because lawmakers have yet to pass a budget --besides, his speech was canceled because of Hurricane Gustav, a party official said Sunday.
Schwarzenegger decided not to attend the G.O.P. convention while battling with members of his own party over how to resolve a $15 billion state budget deficit. He has proposed a budget-balancing sales tax that Republican lawmakers say is unacceptable. They want program cuts and to borrow money from the Lottery, transportation and other funds.
His office in Sacramento issued a statement Saturday blasting Republican legislators' budget proposal, calling it "not fiscally responsible."
Sunday, he issued another statement, supporting Republican presidential candidate John McCain, but saying he could not go to the convention while California still has no state budget.
"I am honored that Sen. McCain invited me to speak at the Republican National Convention," he said. "He is an American hero, a great leader and the right candidate to be our next president.
"However, California is always my number one priority, and there is no greater priority for our state right now than putting a responsible budget in place that fixes our broken system. Therefore -- as I have said -- I will not be attending the national convention in order to focus on working toward a state budget agreement. It is totally unacceptable that 62 days past its deadline, the Legislature has not sent me a budget that I can sign. Just as they must do in our nation's capital, Republicans and Democrats must compromise and do the work of the people."
The political script for the Monday night opening session of the convention called for Schwarzenegger to appear either in person or via satellite television, but that is also out the window, California G.O.P. spokesman Hector Barajas told the Mercury News.
Convention organizers said that on Monday there will be no major speeches -- including by President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney -- because of Hurricane Gustav, which is expected to hit the Gulf Coast Monday morning.
"We can't control an act of God," said California delegate Rosario Marin, who serves as the governor's consumer services secretary.
Some delegates who arrived in Minnesota Saturday night attended a tiki-themed party, complete with roast pig and boat rides, but that may be the end of partying, as delegates reportedly plan to turn Monday night's session into a telethon to raise disaster relief money.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
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