More reasons I'm glad that Schwarzenegger is our Governor - he's pushed through a major overhaul of California's completely ludicrous Worker's Comp system -

...Mr. Schwarzenegger, who is to sign the bill into law on Monday, had threatened to put the issue to a public referendum if the Legislature did not pass the measure by Friday. The Democratic majority, still unnerved by the recall of Mr. Davis, seemed in no mood to challenge the governor, and got the bill passed with five hours to spare.

California has workers comp insurance premiums twice the national norm with little to show for it.  I thought this passage in the article was particularly telling -

Contrary to what some Democrats sought, the legislation, though applying the brakes to the cost of claims paid by insurance companies, does nothing to regulate premiums that they are paid by employers; the governor would not go along with such a provision.

The absence of that regulation left business and labor alike voicing some concern. Nathan Ballard, a spokesman for the California Labor Federation, said that although there were things to like in the legislation, "the problem with this deal is the profits go to the big insurance companies, not the employers or workers."

...Rate regulations would never work, and Governor Schwarzenegger understands that," said Nicole Mahrt of the American Insurance Association. "It would not save one dime, would do nothing to fix the system and discourage private companies from coming in and creating a competitive market rate."

Schwarz - due to his small biz background - understands that companies reacts to incentives - lower the cost of being a workers comp insurance provider and more companies & more capital will come into the worker's comp insurance "industry" and eventually rates will follow. The Cali Dem's wanted to socialize the industry instead and directly regulate insurance rates.   Economic Idiots.

Still - an even bigger revolution may be brewing.   The Orange County Register reports that a larger, more complete California governmental overhaul is bubbling just below the surface -

SACRAMENTO – A team of bureaucrats picked by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is quietly preparing a comprehensive reorganization of state government larger than any attempted in California history.

The plan, expected to be complete by April 30, would close down whole departments and consolidate others. Up to 200 state boards and commissions and 1,500 political appointees would be eliminated.

...Leaders did not say whether layoffs will result. But project coordinator Paul Miner said the plan will help cope with an upcoming wave of state employee retirements, suggesting many retirees will not be replaced.

Schwarzenegger has officially booked an anticipated $150 million in first-year savings from the review's efforts. But Billy Hamilton, a deputy comptroller from the state of Texas hired to help oversee the review, said savings could be much higher.

...One slide depicting government organization was labeled, "California State Bureaucracy: An Anti-Customer Maze."

All I can say is "Bring it on!"