The golden state of Arnold

A few days ago, I posted this disconnect from reality by my action hero Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Today, the L.A. Times does the same:

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is pursuing an orthodox conservative no-taxes-ever policy even as other Republican governors have abandoned it to save their states. Schwarzenegger's colleagues in Nevada, Idaho, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana and Colorado haven't turned Democratic, just realistic.

(snip)

Five other Republican governors, more willing to face reality, have resorted to higher taxes in recent years. Now Colorado Gov. Bill Owens, trying to avoid dismembering state services, is working with Democrats in his legislature to suspend the state's famous taxpayer-approved spending limit. Owens, up to now a champion of spending limits, says that, considering federal cuts in aid to states, common sense dictates that Colorado increase spending for healthcare for the poor, higher education, transportation and public safety — increases not allowed under the spending cap. Owens says he will seek increases of $3 billion over the next five years.

Also announced today, lawmaker's are investigating an apparent sweetheart deal the Schwarzenegger administration gave to a small firm in Virginia, whose only qualification seems to be a $25,000 contribution to one of Arnold's political campaigns:

Last June, the Schwarzenegger administration hired CGI-AMS to help the state cut its near-$5 billion annual purchasing bill. But so far, the company has failed to deliver on its goal of trimming $96 million in spending this fiscal year.

Questions surrounding how the contract was awarded, the company's lack of experience and its trail of legal problems with past government work have prompted a Senate committee hearing Wednesday into the "strategic sourcing" contract to be led by Sens. Joe Dunn, D-Garden Grove, and Liz Figueroa, D-Sunol.

Meanwhile, Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, said he planned to ask the Legislature's audit committee Wednesday to approve a formal audit of the CGI-AMS contract and related activities at the Department of General Services.

Leno said he has several concerns prompted by the fact the contract isn't saving the money it was meant to.

It will be interesting to see what, if anything, this investigation uncovers and it's effects on Arnold's already slumping poll numbers.