As long as we’re down to last-minute Christmas lists, consider Gov. Schwarzenegger’s. He’s hoping Uncle Sam will be his Secret Santa, with a gift certificate for $8 billion.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the governor will ask Washington for a big piece of  what would be the government’s second stimulus. And if the $8 billion doesn’t come, he vows the end of welfare as we know it, with the abolishment of CALWORKS, along with — listen up, big business — the rescission of the $2 billion in corporate tax cuts the Legislature and the governor himself snuck in this year.

No mention so far of education, although the Sacramento Bee reported that Schwarzenegger, as expected,  will seek a waiver from the Obama administration to reduce  K-14 spending. At the same time, he will cite, as one cause of the state’s troubles, the requirement under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the first stimulus program, that states maintain their level of education spending — or face penalties.

The Obama administration hasn’t committed to a second stimulus package, but the House passed a $175 billion jobs and infrastructure package before adjourning for the year.