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Budget Deadlock Means Schwarzenegger To Skip RNC

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Aug 31, 2008 11:02 pm US/Central

Budget Deadlock Means Schwarzenegger To Skip RNC

ST. PAUL (AP) ― Pinned down by the budget deadlock in Sacramento, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger backed out of his speech at the Republican National Convention.

In a statement, Schwarzenegger said he was honored by Sen. John McCain's invitation, but couldn't leave the state without an approved budget.

"There is no greater priority for our state right now than putting a responsible budget in place that fixes our broken system," said Schwarzenegger. "It is totally unacceptable that 62 days past its deadline, the Legislature has not sent me a budget that I can sign."

The governor's decision to stay at home came just before Republican officials scaled back the convention's Monday schedule as Hurricane Gustav churned toward New Orleans. That means the governor's opening-night speech probably would have been delayed or canceled, even if he made the trip to the convention in St. Paul, Minn.

The celebrity governor had said repeatedly he wouldn't attend the convention unless a budget deal was reached. Lawmakers remain deadlocked on taxes and other issues as California faces a multibillion-dollar projected deficit.

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According to GOP.com, the Republican Party was born in the early 1850's by anti-slavery activists and individuals who believed that government should grant western lands to settlers free of charge. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected as the first Republican Party president.



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