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Laird: Why Democrats are working with Schwarzenegger

By Ben Adler

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kazu/local-kazu-527996.mp3

Sacramento, CA – Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and top Democratic legislators agreed Wednesday on a bill to make California the first state in the nation to limit greenhouse gas emissions. It's the latest in a series of compromises between the two sides; earlier deals included bills to increase the minimum wage and reduce prescription drug costs. The Republican governor is trying to appeal to Democrats and independents as he runs for re-election in November, but that's not stopping Democrats like Assemblyman John Laird of Santa Cruz from working with Schwarzenegger. When Laird stopped by the KAZU studios a couple of weeks ago - before all the deals were made - KAZU's Ben Adler asked him what motivated Democrats to negotiate with the governor while risking giving him the political advantage he seeks.