Hogue - Davis Transcribed Interview
Eric Hogue
Here is the interview that I had with Governor Gray Davis today...
Hogue: “As you know better than anybody else Governor, running this state, the state of California, is not an easy thing to do. And one of the phrases that is being bandied about, when you were facing the recall and when we talk about the post recall situation is that this state is ungovernable. As Governor, no matter what you do, if you want to enact real reform or if you just want to sit there and face that opposition, I mean, this is something that must be considered, could you speak to that situation?”
Davis: “Well it’s a very hard job and clearly no one person can do it alone. You need to put coalitions together -- obviously you have to have the people behind you. Even then there are a lot of severe obstacles, I mean just to pass the budget, California’s one of three states in America that requires a 2/3 vote. The other two are Arkansas and I believe it’s Rhode Island, not exactly states with similar demographics or similar complexities, but the bottom line is, it’s an opportunity to do the best….Governor it’s the best opportunity you’ll have to try and make the changes you believe in and I value every day I had it and I thank the people for the opportunity and I wish Arnold well.”
Hogue:“When you talk about the word ungovernable, and once again we’re speaking with Governor Gray Davis, Prop 77 comes up and we’ve caught wind, and I need some clarification from you Sir, that Adelphia Cable had a show that you were on recently and you made mention they’re saying or we’re at least hearing that you’re supportive of Prop 77. You would like to see something done with how we divide up our districts here in California…”
Davis: “Yes. I believe it’s a mistake to have the legislature and the governor draw the district lines. It’s basically a conflict of interest. And I don’t like the results even though I signed the bill last time. My primary concern was that Democrats not try and craft more seats than they won at the prior election in 2000. But I didn’t have time given the energy crisis to see how locked in people are. And my concern is that every elected official should have some sense of jeopardy in a November election. They should have some obligation to the general interest and not just having to win their primaries. And so I think its better off having people who are not combatants in this process, retired judges, draw those lines. Actually, I think of the last 4 reapportionments, Eric, 2 were drawn by judges because the courts threw out the redistrict plans and they turned out fine. So, uh, I’m for that initiative. I’m not for it starting in 2006, but I’m for the concept of having judges draw the lines.”
Hogue:“What do you think about the current status of 77? Obviously, there has been a mishap and Attorney General Bill Lockyer has asked and the court has simply pulled it from the ballot. Do you think that court and the appeal that’s now hitting the courtroom should be reconsidered and should be placed on the ballot coming up in November?”
Davis: “I’d like to see it on the ballot in November, but worst case it should be on the ballot in June. People should have the opportunity to decide whether or not they want the legislature and the governor to continue to craft reapportionment plans or take it out of their hands and put in the hands of what I believe would be less partial decision makers, retired judges.”
Hogue: “To the public employee unions, a constant theme on my show here, the combination of gerrymandered districts or how we do draw the lines in California and how much money is coming from the public employee unions. Do you have any concerns about what I call the web-of-control or the money machine and how out of control it is and continues to be, Governor?”
Davis: “Obviously money is a big force in politics. I think it always will be no matter what laws are put on the books. I signed laws that put limits on how much people could give to constitutional races, races below Governor and on the Governor itself and I also signed legislation requiring that any contribution over $5,000 be made public in 24 hours, so I think disclosure is the key, but whatever rules we apply to the election to say the legislature and the Governor that will not prohibit major donors, be they corporate concerns or union concerns from having independent expenditures, that’s protected by the first amendment.
Hogue: “What about the initiative that’s on the ballot here that’s pretty much in slang called “Paycheck Protection? Are you supportive of this initiative?”
Davis: “No I’m not because I think that today; members of unions which represent only 13% of the population in America have the opportunity to say they don’t want to have a portion of their fees go for political purposes. It’s called an agency fee and they can’t indicate that annually first when they sign up and annually when they renew their commitment to pay dues. It’d be like saying no executive in a corporation can give money without 75% approval of their shareholders. So, I don’t think we should put those restraints on corporate contributions and I don’t think we should put them on union contributions.”
Hogue:“The Governor, Governor Schwarzenegger, has faced a lot of opposition over the past few months. A lot of it has been innuendo, and we’ve called it on this show on 1380 KTKZ the strategy of the big lie. Do you believe in knowing Governor Schwarzenegger, Governor Davis, that he is targeting nurses, he is targeting policemen and women and firefighters or is he moreover talking about his concerns surrounding the unions?”
Davis: “I like Governor Schwarzenegger; I think he’s a good person. I think he is, like all of us, I certainly made more than my fair share of mistakes, he’s made some mistakes. The one thing I learned very early on as governor when you say something as governor people take it very seriously. And I think occasionally some of his remarks about nurses and otherwise were misconstrued and it created some friction. That having been said, anytime you try and change existing pensions, you’re going to get resistance. If I said we’re going to change the pay provisions of on-air people of radio and television, I’m sure there would be some resistance. That’s just the nature of the process- not much you can do about that.”
Hogue: “Are you concerned about the pensions? I mean much of that came about while you were in office there. Do you think it needs to be toned back and reconsidered? Does it jeopardize the budget of this state right now?”
Davis: “I think over the long term it’s something we have to deal with. I think the way to deal with it is through discussion, negotiation, dialogue to see if you can’t come to some consensus. I mean nobody in life likes to go backwards. I mean the American way is, and I think we’re all proud to be part of this great country, is that we all like for things to get better for each succeeding generation and certainly we like to do our part in this generation to prepare for the next. No one likes to think that the people that come after them will be less well paid or less well taken care of. The realities are that we have to deal with that and I think it’s best done incrementally and with a process where all sides are sitting at the table and eventually you’ll reach a consensus. Its hard work it’s not a lot of fun it’s not exciting as TV. But basically, when you’re asking people to go backwards, you have to do it with a lot of sensitivity.”
Hogue: “There’s been some concern, some conversation, about the Governor not going forward on the Special Election. Would you encourage him to do so governor?”
Davis: “I believe the issues he wants to put on the ballot should go before the public. I’m not convinced, Eric, that they have to be done this November. It looks at the moment, like we’re down to two initiatives. One having to do with teacher tenure, one having to do with the budget. I don’t see why those issues couldn’t wait until June. But that’s his call. You get elected governor you can decide whether you want to have a special election and if he wants it to be in November, that’s when it will be.”
Hogue: “Sir, just a couple more questions- it’s a joy talking to you. What’s your recipe? What would you cook in the kitchen down here in the horseshoe to make the state governable? What would you do? What’s needed?”
Davis: “Well I think he’s started to do the right thing now, which is just to sit down with the legislature and see if he can’t iron out some of the problems between themselves. If they can in fact come up with some compromise initiatives to go on the ballot where everyone’s for them, Republicans and Democrats, I think that would take some of the pressure off the voters. I mean we’ve asked the voters to do a lot. We’ve had elections in 2002 the recall in 2003 we had some important issues on the ballot in March of 2004 and now we’re talking about another election in 2005. If we can give them a breather until June 2000 because compromise has been worked out between Democrats and Republicans I think it’s a good thing, in fact, I think it’s what the public expects.”
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