Governor rejects financial crisis fix
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday rejected an $18 billion plan the Legislature passed to ease the state’s financial crisis through higher gas, sales and income taxes and cuts to schools and health care.
Schwarzenegger, who for weeks has exhorted lawmakers to act to forestall a cash crisis, vowed to veto the package after Democrats used a series of legal maneuvers to push through $9.3 billion in taxes without any GOP votes. He called on legislators to return to the negotiating table.
It was not the taxes – or the tactics Democrats used to pass them – that Schwarzenegger said troubled him. He complained the plan did not go as far as he wanted to stimulate the economy.
“I need exactly what I recommended (for my) recovery package,” he told reporters an hour after the Senate and Assembly concluded voting following a tense legislative session. “I think they should stay here, work some more on this budget.”
Schwarzenegger also complained that the Democratic plan did not include an additional $1.2 billion in cuts to the state work force and welfare programs.
Rogers, Ark.
Jeepers, it’s a girl: Parents greet 18th
An Arkansas woman has given birth to her 18th child.
Michelle Duggar delivered the baby girl by Caesarean section Thursday at Mercy Medical Center in Rogers. The baby, named Jordyn-Grace Makiya Duggar, weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces and was 20 inches long.
“The ultimate Christmas gift from God,” said Jim Bob Duggar, the father of the 18 children. “She’s just absolutely beautiful, like her mom and her sisters.”
The Duggars now have 10 sons and eight daughters.
Jim Bob Duggar said Michelle started having contractions Wednesday night. She needed the C-section, her third, because the baby was lying sideways. Jim Bob said both baby and mother were doing well Thursday night.
“We both would love to have more,” he said.
The cable network TLC broadcasts a weekly show about the Duggars called “17 Kids and Counting.” Chris Finnegan of TLC – which handles public relations for the Duggar family – said the show’s name would be updated to account for the latest addition to the family. He said TLC also will air a show Monday on the baby’s delivery.
Jim Bob Duggar is 43, a year older than his wife. Their oldest child, Joshua, is 20.
The other Duggar children, between Joshua and Jordyn-Grace, are Jana, 18; John-David, 18; Jill, 17; Jessa, 16; Jinger, 14; Joseph, 13; Josiah, 12; Joy-Anna, 11; Jeremiah, 9; Jedidiah, 9; Jason, 8; James, 7; Justin, 6; Jackson, 4; Johannah, 3; and Jennifer, 1.