California's Growing Government: Soaring payroll stymies 'reformer' governor

The San Francisco Chronicle reports:

The total amount of money the state spends per state resident has increased by 33 percent since Schwarzenegger took office in November 2003, according a budget document produced by his Department of Finance this year.

When Schwarzenegger took office in the middle of the 2003-04 fiscal year, the state spent $2,899 per capita. Today that has grown to $3,845 per resident, according to the document.

The number of state employees per resident also has grown - from 8.8 employees per 1,000 residents four years ago to 9.5 today.

"It speaks to the power of labor unions and the inertia of government," said Republican consultant Kevin Spillane. "Schwarzenegger is just confronting the realities of how hard it is to change government."

Spillane also blamed the Legislature for failing to support real reform and the public for being too apathetic.

Who said the Republican Party is for smaller government? Arnold really is a sham.