Arnold Schwarzenegger's statement on the endorsement of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association [Political Action Committee]:

"I am honored to announce that I have received the endorsement of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association [Political Action Committee]. I would like to thank the members of the Association, because this means a great deal to me and to our campaign.

"I have been a firm supporter of Proposition 13 for many years. I continue to strongly support it, and will continue to defend it. Think what a worse mess California would be in today if not for Prop. 13.

"The Association and I worked together on Prop. 49 and now we are working together again. Our elected officials have created a budget crisis, and an economic situation that is driving businesses and jobs to other states.

"All this was entirely avoidable if Sacramento had followed the common sense principles of Howard Jarvis and Ronald Reagan. They believed and I believe that we don't have a multi-billion dollar debt because we aren't taxed enough; we have a multi-billion dollar debt because we spend too much.

"Sacramento cannot say no to higher spending and taxes. Well, I can, and that is what I intend to do as governor.

"Again, I want to thank the Association for this important endorsement, and I look forward to working together with the Association to bring some sanity to Sacramento's spending and taxing."