Posted on 09/16/2004 6:28:26 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO - After pledging to reject money from special-interest groups, Arnold Schwarzenegger has accepted five- and six-figure donations from a wide array of businesses with a stake in some of the hundreds of bills the Republican governor must sign or veto by month's end.
Schwarzenegger has tried to head off criticism of his fundraising by creating an ever-evolving set of restrictions that prevent certain groups from giving him money, but some of his recent donors have very specific agendas.
• Last week, Schwarzenegger cashed a $5,000 donation from a pharmaceutical company days after signing a bill it co-sponsored that expands its access to state nursing homes.
• The governor received a $100,000 check from ChevronTexaco in late August as he was poised to begin considering a series of measures that would benefit the oil industry.
• State dentists gave the governor $25,000 two weeks ago while hoping he will sign several bills. One would impose new limits on state regulators who oversee their profession; a second could save their company hundreds of thousands of dollars. Schwarzenegger's top fundraiser said Wednesday that he may have to return the donation after learning that it may violate the governor's self-imposed ban on accepting money from single-interest trade groups.
Margita Thompson, the governor's press secretary, rejected any implication the governor had rewarded -- or would reward -- donors by approving or rejecting their pet bills.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
A look at bills signed and vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
http://www.bakersfield.com/state_wire/story/4938213p-4997347c.html
The Associated Press
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed 20 bills Wednesday and vetoed 24. Among bills signed by the governor:
DEVELOPMENT:
- Two-thirds of the property owners in deteriorating apartment neighborhoods could form multifamily "improvement districts" to assess themselves for graffiti removal, upgraded landscaping and extra security and lighting. SB1404, by Sen. Nell Soto, D-Pomona.
PORT SECURITY:
- Would increase tracking and data collection of port thefts and crimes, and use the information to apply for new federal port security grants. AB1814, by Assemblywoman Jenny Oropeza, D-Long Beach.
ENVIRONMENTAL PLATES:
- Would increased from $25 to $30 the yearly renewal fee for personalized environmental license plates and specify that the revenue be used for ocean protection including controlling pollutants and protecting wildlife and water quality. AB2514, by the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.
Among bills vetoed:
SCHOOL FOOD:
- Would encourage school districts participating in the National School Lunch Program to offer more information about the nutritional content of lunches served as part of the program, especially about calories, fat and saturated fats. AB2686, by Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson, D-Santa Barbara.
EMPLOYEE COMPLAINTS:
- Would require the California State University system to hire independent investigators on complaints made by whistleblowers who allege retaliation and threats for disclosing information. AB2637, by Assemblyman Manny Diaz, D-San Jose.
EDUCATION:
- School and community college districts would be required to annually report the salaries and benefits of superintendents, their four leading administrators, five highest-paid faculty members and highest-paid classified employees. AB745, by Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, D-Los Angeles.
BICYCLING:
- A Department of Transportation task force would be required to recommend ways to promote walking and bicycling under SB1381 by Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Santa Monica.
RETIRED TEACHERS:
- Retired members of the State Teachers Retirement System could elect one of their own to serve on the system's board under SB1137 by Senate President Pro Tem John Burton, D-San Francisco.
Schwarzenegger turns down 13 more bills, including pay disclosure measure
http://www.bakersfield.com/state_wire/story/4938208p-4997336c.html
By STEVE LAWRENCE, Associated Press Writer
SACRAMENTO (AP) - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed 13 more bills Wednesday, including a measure requiring schools to disclose salaries each year of their highest paid administrators, teachers and other employees.
The Republican governor also turned down bills that would:
- Bar someone from serving as a peer reviewer for the California Environmental Protection Agency or any of its boards, departments or offices if that person had a financial interest in the agency's decision.
- Make the California State University hire outside investigators to probe complaints by employees who allege they were harassed or retaliated against for making whistle-blower disclosures.
- Encourage schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to put out information about the nutritional content of the lunches they serve students.
- Require the California Integrated Waste Management Board post on its Web site a list of suppliers, manufacturers and wholesalers who don't comply with plastic trash bag recycling requirements.
Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, D-Los Angeles, said her bill requiring schools to report salaries for their top five administrators, teachers and classified employees responded to a "growing focus on school accountability."
"It makes sense that total compensation for top school administrators, teachers and other personnel be provided in a clear and easily understandable manner for taxpayers, parents and other members of the education community," she added.
But Schwarzenegger said the bill "essentially duplicates existing reporting requirements."
"Currently, the School Accountability Report Card, an annual school assessment, includes fiscal and expenditure data including the percent of budget spent on teacher and administrative salaries," he said in a veto message.
Sen. Bryon Sher, D-Stanford, said his peer review bill would avoid conflicts of interest.
But Schwarzenegger contended the measure would prevent "many of the most qualified scientists from performing peer reviews, while not adequately screening out other scientists who may have actual conflicts of interest."
He also argued that there are already adequate protection for CSU whistleblowers. "It is unclear how requiring CSU to employ an external investigator will provide for a better process," he said in vetoing that measure by Assemblyman Manny Diaz, D-San Jose.
Providing parents with information about the nutritional value of their children's school lunches would only result in a "marginal change in behavior," Schwarzenegger claimed.
"The bill is unnecessary because school districts currently have the ability to implement a school lunch program that offers more lowfat options along with nutritional posting without the enactment of this measure," he added.
As far as the plastic bag recycling bill, he said it was "redundant and unnecessary" because the Integrated Waste Management Board already posts the names of suppliers, manufacturers and wholesalers who don't comply with requirements that plastic trash bags include a certain percentage of recycled material.
The governor also signed 14 bills, including one allowing Santa Barbara County to collect a penalty assessment to pay for emergency medical services.
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On the Net: www.governor.ca.gov, www.senate.ca.gov and www.assembly.ca.gov
penalty assessment 8-?
I guess that is one way to dig for dough.. some cities are trying to assess 911 surcharges for those and other services. Looked who signed it. It was an emergency. bohica
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