Californians veto state spending

California voters

shot down a referendum that would give the state government more money:

Schwarzenegger and lawmakers called the special election in February as part of a plan to solve a $42 billion deficit that had been projected through mid-2010. ‘

They asked California voters consider a complex mix of spending reforms, higher taxes, borrowing and funding shifts.

Most of the measures were losing by wide margins, with at least 60 percent of voters rejecting them, according to partial returns.

Voters approved just one of the six propositions, a measure prohibiting pay raises for lawmakers and other state elected officials during deficit years.

Now the Governator will have to take a meat cleaver to state spending. So much for that mellow, liberal stereotype that Californians labor under! When it comes right down to it, Californians can be down right conservative! As a Californiphile, I salute the state and its citizens.