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Friday, Oct. 10, 2003

He also called on Gov. Gray Davis not to make any more appointments or sign legislation in the waning days of his administration, although Schwarzenegger acknowledged it is Davis' right to do so.

"I would like it really if he doesn't sign any more bills, as far as that goes," Schwarzenegger said. "But we will be working on that, and I'm absolutely convinced that when the governor says that he wants to have a smooth transition, that we will in fact have a smooth transition. And I am looking forward to that and the process has already begun."

Davis spokesman Steven Maviglio said Davis will continue to make appointments and act on legislation. He added, "The governor-elect might be interested in learning that bills that Gov. Davis does not act on before October 13th automatically become law."

In California, the governor may veto a bill, sign it or allow it to become law without signing it.

Schwarzenegger, who will take office as soon as the results of Tuesday's recall election are certified, said his first priority will be investigating the state's finances. The Republican said the state's budget shortfall for next fiscal year may have risen to at least $10 billion.

Audit

"One of the first things we have to do is audit. Open up the books and let the people look inside. Let the sun shine in," Schwarzenegger said at a news conference at a Santa Monica hotel.

Schwarzenegger also introduced Rep. David Dreier, R-Calif., who is heading his transition team, and the two said they hoped to select a broad group of Democrats and Republicans to help them.

The first name they announced was the team's finance director, Donna Arduin, who is on loan from the administration of Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, where she is budget director.

Other members of the team include two prominent elected Democrats -- San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown and Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn -- as well as former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz and Hewlett-Packard chief executive officer Carly Fiorina.

Schwarzenegger has vowed to immediately repeal the recent tripling of the state's car tax and to preserve educational programs as he trims the budget.

Meanwhile, Davis met Thursday afternoon with his cabinet members, congratulating each one and asking that they cooperate with Schwarzenegger's team.

"They may need our help and if they ask, I want you to provide it," said Davis, who did not take questions from reporters. "Our service is not complete until we've done everything humanly possible to prepare the next administration for their assignment."

Davis has about 100 pending appointments to make, 15 of which require Senate confirmation, Maviglio said.

Another 21 appointments already are pending before the Senate. Majority leader John Burton said he is considering calling the upper house back into session to act on the appointments before Davis, like Burton a Democrat, leaves office.

Even after becoming only the second governor to be recalled in U.S. history, Davis still has a sense of humor. On Friday, he was to read the Top 10 list on David Letterman's "Late Show."

© 2003 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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