TAFs CELEBRATES WITH ARNO: 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY!
Govinator Schwarzenegger's 1st year completed!
Reported By: Randy Jennings
Friday, October 8, 2004

Did you celebrate today with a pump or a stogie? Today I celebrated Arnold Schwarzenegger's ONE YEAR Governor anniversary with the man himself. The Austrian Oak stopped by my home town of San Jose, California today and I was not about to miss the opportunity to celebrate a very special day in Arnold history!

Today the Terminator wore a black bomber jacket embroidered with "No on 70" in bright red letters. He was as fit and healthy looking as ever. After I had a few words with Arnold and congratulated him, I let him get down to business. During his 30-minute appearance, Schwarzenegger spoke to a packed room at the Parkside Hall in downtown San Jose.

On the one-year anniversary of his election, Gov. Schwarzenegger told a crowd of Silicon Valley business and community leaders Thursday that if Propositions 68 and 70 are not defeated, they would likely see Las Vegas-style casinos in their cities, near their shopping centers and even next to their schools.

Schwarzenegger insisted that the two gaming propositions must be defeated if he is to fulfill his campaign promise to bring California's Indian gaming tribes to the negotiating table in order to secure revenue for the state.

He said Proposition 68, largely backed by the card club and racetrack industry, and Proposition 70, backed by a coalition of Indian tribes, are attempts to "pull the wool over our eyes."

"Basically, what they want to do is pave the way for Las Vegas-type casinos all over California," Schwarzenegger said.

He said his renegotiated compacts with California's gaming tribes not only bring more revenue to state and local governments but also allow the state to audit the tribes' books, ensuring fairness and accountability.

"If we cannot look at the books, how do we know if we are getting a good deal or a RAW DEAL?" Schwarzenegger asked. "We have to terminate Propositions 68 and 70."

Following his opening remarks and brief remarks from San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales and Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith, the governor took eight questions from the audience.

Schwarzenegger stayed generally on message, stressing what he believes are the detrimental effects of the two propositions, but in response to one question, he did say that he supports extending Bay Area Rapid Transit into Santa Clara County and to downtown San Jose.

"Yes, you have my support. We're going to work on that," Schwarzenegger said.

Schwarzenegger concluded his remarks by noting the one-year anniversary of his election as governor and thanked the people of California, elected officials with whom he has worked and the state press corps, which he said has been "very fair in the last year."

TheArnoldFans congratulates Arnold for a full year as one of California's most successful Governors of all times!

For a clip of Arnold's speech, click HERE!