Schwarzenegger's afer-school program ... it never happened

[himself]

Just came across an inconvenient fact for Schwarzenegger. He has taken credit all these years for an after-school program that doesn't exist except on paper. Tom Hayden did a piece in The Nation debunking Schwarzie's claims. Did anyone else pick on on this? Maybe I missed it.

Here is Schwarzenegger's Website bragging on the program:

"In 2002, Arnold authored and backed an after-school initiative in California - the After School Education and Safety Act of 2002 (Proposition 49). Proposition 49 recently passed overwhelmingly in the 2002 California election. As the initiative's sponsor, author, and Chairman, Arnold created the initiative to make state grants available for after school programs. These programs will be available to every public elementary and middle school in California that chooses to offer one. The program puts over $455 million in grants into the California public school system and is estimated to save at least three times its costs to the California tax payer.

"Given Proposition 49's benefit to children, the initiative won endorsements from nearly all of the major teaching associations in California including the California Teachers Association and the California Parent Teachers Association. Proposition 49 saves taxpayer dollars, crime victims and society approximately $9 for every $1 invested. As a result, Proposition 49 also won endorsements from top taxpayer and government associations including the California Taxpayers Association, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, and the California Business Roundtable. PROPOSITION 49 IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP WHICH HAS A TREMENDOUS BENEFIT TO THE CHILDREN OF CALIFORNIA, a great social benefit to the people of California, and a fiscal benefit to the taxpayer."

http://www.joinarnold.com/en/leadership/

And here is Tom Hayden's reality check:

"...Arnold's one-time political achievement before being elected governor: the after-school initiative he sponsored, and voters supported in 2002. On the one hand, it was a much-needed half-billion-dollar program providing after-school activities for thousands of at-risk kids, especially from the inner city...On the other hand, the measure stipulates that funding is triggered only when a budget surplus exists. So, because of Republican ideology, NOT A SINGLE CHILD HAS BENEFITED FROM ARNOLD'SAFTER-SCOOL PROGRAM AND, GIVEN THE STRUCTURAL DEFICIT IN SACRAMENTO, IT WILL BE YEARS BEFORE ANY DO."

http://www.thenation.com/issue.mhtml?i=20031110

I guess it is like the sexual battery of 20 or more women over a decade or two that the new Gov has been accused of. It never happened.

[secretshopper]

1. The figures look like Head Start

Saving $9 for every $1 invested is straight from Head Start's results.

Too bad the Republicans don't support Head Start.

Secret Shopper

[newyawker99]

4. Hi secretshopper!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[opihimoimoi]

2. ROOOOOKED again!!! Those Pubs, always fooling the Public

with bull shit. and the Sheep, blinded and herded into believing anything shoved down their throats.

Damn.

[newyawker99]

3. Hi himself!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Snellius]

5. Arianna brought this up at the debate

She accused Arnold of using it as a phoney launching pad to propel his political career.