Monday, June 13, 2005

Know-nothing Governor cost Californians Billions

If you believe former Governor Gray Davis, it was ignorance, not malfeasance, which is to blame for the State's 2000-01 Energy Crisis:

Former Gov. Gray Davis now admits he was unprepared for the 2000-01 energy crisis that sent electricity bills soaring, brought rolling blackouts and ultimately helped bring an early end to his political career.

Davis, recalled by voters in an unprecedented move, was replaced by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in October 2003, a year after Davis had won a second term.

The former Democratic governor said he erred by buying power at inflated rates during the height of the crisis, but said he acted because he "wasn't willing to risk" sustained blackouts.

"Did it turn out to be a mistake? Yes," Davis said during a speech Friday before the Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco.