Was Pete Wilson Right? June 29, 2009

Moderated by Joe Mathews, Irvine Senior Fellow, New America Foundation

Pete Wilson’s California wasn’t too different from Arnold Schwarzenegger’s. The state’s education system lagged behind the rest of the country, interest groups had a tight grip on Sacramento, healthcare costs were rising, and the economy was the worst it had been since the Great Depression. While Wilson may be best remembered for his more controversial stances—like supporting Proposition 187, which sought to refuse services to illegal immigrants—he also managed to pass budgets and break partisan stalemates, ultimately leaving his successor a budget surplus. Ten years after he left office, at a time when many claim California is ungovernable, Pete Wilson visits Zócalo to chat about the economy, interest groups, and how he might address the problems the state faces today.

Zócalo Public Square is a non-profit organization that builds community by broadening access to civic discourse. We present smart ideas in an open, welcoming, non-partisan, multi-ethnic space. Zócalo launched in Los Angeles in 2003. Since then the “public square” has traveled as far as Shanghai.

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