Sunday Service: Prayer and Propositions

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger attended three church services in Los Angeles Sunday to stump for six statewide ballot propositions on Tuesday's ballot, most of which do not have a prayer of passing, if the polls are to be believed.

Schwarzenegger and Democratic Assembly Speaker Karen Bass of Los Angeles were scheduled to visit West Angeles Church of God in Christ, Second Baptist Church of Los Angeles, and First African Methodist Episcopal Church Sunday morning.

Most of the propositions, proposed by the Legislature, are meant to reduce a $15 billion deficit in the state budget.

The only one that is leading in the polls is Proposition 1F, which would prevent the governor, lawmakers and statewide elected officials from receiving pay raises in years when the state has a deficit.

Schwarzenegger released two revised budgets proposals on Thursday, neither of which would enable the officials to get a raise if the 1F passes as expected.

One of the proposed budget adjustments assumes the propositions pass, but still has a $15 billion deficit. The other assumes the propositions fail, which would result in the budget ballooning to $21 billion, according to the Governor's Office.

Both budgets call for cuts to education, social services and corrections, withholding money for local governments, layoffs for thousands of state workers and selling off some state assets, including the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Selling off state facilities has drawn fire from many who say the state would get a low return because property values have dropped.

The propositions would slow the growth of the deficit in the short run, but increase debt in out years.