Proponent's Recall Argument

Gray Davis is a FAILED governor. He should be recalled.

FACT: Gray Davis MISLED the people of California about his spending spree of taxpayer's money. He turned our surplus into a record deficit. He told us one thing while doing another. He ran up a debt of $1,100 for every man, woman and child in California. Despite this serious situation, Gray Davis still refuses to address our budget crisis. After he signed yet another overblown budget, California's credit rating was lowered again, costing another $40 million per year.

FACT: California is in deep trouble, yet Gray Davis has no plan to remove us from the brink of bankruptcy. Even now, he still refuses to take responsibility. Gray Davis made a lot of promises, but delivered little for anyone except the special interest groups, the trial lawyers and the labor union bosses who already have too much power.

FACT: Davis TRIPLED THE CAR TAX! After promising to veto any Car Tax increase, he directed his staff to trigger the increase, which will cost the average family $460 every year. No vote, no accountability, no responsibility. Davis just decided he wanted to tax you and ordered his staff to collect.

Recalling a governor is a serious matter; but so is accountability.

FACT: Over 296,000 good paying jobs have left California...and more are leaving every day. Over one million Californians can't find work, while neighboring states are happily providing jobs for people leaving California. You can't have employEES without employERS, yet Gray Davis is doing nothing to address the Workers Compensation Crisis he created that threatens all jobs in California.

FACT: Our schools, once among the best in America, are now among the worst. Gray Davis looked us straight in the eye and promised California a "world-class" education system. Instead, our schools are in crisis and our teachers are suffering due to the slashing of our investment in education. Our kids deserve better.

FACT: While our roads are crumbling and traffic is getting worse every day, Davis has diverted billions of our highway dollars to pay for his overspending.

FACT: Californians continue to pay the highest electricity rates in the nation due to Davis' failure to respond to the energy crisis.

FACT: Gray Davis refuses to take responsibility. He maintains the budget deficit is not his problem; other states have deficits, too. But, California's deficit is more than the other 49 states combined. Now Davis wants to blame the deficit on the $2 per person cost of the recall.

FACT: Something has to change. This recall is about FACTS that prove Gray Davis has failed. We cannot continue down the path of higher taxes, job losses, and wasteful government spending. We must hold politicians like Gray Davis accountable.

Over 2,100,000 people have spoken by signing the recall petitions that made this election possible. They can't all be wrong.

Vote YES! RECALL Gray Davis.

EDWARD J. "TED" COSTA, CEO
People's Advocate Inc.
3407 Arden Way
Sacramento, CA 95825
916-482-6175 or 800-501-8222
tedcosta@tedcosta.com

Governor's Recall Argument

It has been my honor to serve my state and country for many years, as an Army Captain in Vietnam, State Controller, Lieutenant Governor and now as Governor.

California voters are fair-minded. I trust them. I believe they will do the right thing on October 7.

Here are the reasons I ask voters to oppose the recall:

Cost to Taxpayers. This recall effort, funded by conservative Republicans, will cost taxpayers approximately $66 million for a Special Election. That money would be better spent on education, health care, and public safety.

Uncertainty. Because there are so many candidates on the ballot, the next governor could be elected with less than 15% of the vote! And voters won't know who the replacement would be when they vote on the recall.

Inexperience. The person selected with such a small percentage of the vote could be inexperienced and out of step with Californians. He or she would take office within days, and have little time to assemble a team.

A Right-Wing Conservative Agenda. The recall was financed by right-wing Republicans who want to replace our progressive agenda with their conservative agenda. During the recent budget fight in Sacramento, the Republicans tried delaying kindergarten for 100,000 children, taking away health coverage for 400,000 children, and limiting access to higher education by stripping $600 million from the higher education budget.

No Solution. A national recession has created deficits in California and 46 other states. But the Republicans behind this recall are trying to blame one person for all of California's problems. While you might not agree with everything I have done, this costly recall won't make things better--and could make things worse.

Issues You Care About. I strongly support a woman's right to choose and protecting our environment. I am working hard to improve our schools and to support public safety. This recall could result in a right-wing conservative governor whose agenda is not supported by most Californians.

For the sake of California, vote NO on the recall.

GRAY DAVIS, Governor of the State of California
9911 West Pico Blvd., Suite 980
Los Angeles, CA 90035
310-201-0344
www.no-recall.com