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Governor sets money-raising record-$26.6 million in his first year--most .. from special interests
SFGate.com ^ | 11/17/04 | Christian Berthelsen - SF Chronicle

Posted on 11/17/2004 9:27:19 AM PST by NormsRevenge

Sacramento -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, after campaigning as a reformer who would cast special interests out of the Capitol, smashed every fund-raising record in his first year in office with a $26.6 million haul that doubled the amount raised by former Gov. Gray Davis in his first year.

The vast majority of the money came from special interests deeply vested in the outcome of legislative and regulatory decisions in Sacramento, including financial companies, auto dealers and manufacturers and health care concerns. In some cases, the governor, who took office a year ago today, has taken positions that benefited his contributors.

For much of the year, Schwarzenegger used a legal loophole to raise sums greater than a state law's $21,200 limit. And in recent weeks, as a deadline approached to close that loophole, Schwarzenegger stepped up his acceptance of those donations, raking in individual contributions as high as $500,000.

"He's taken more money from special interests than anyone in this state ever has," said David Fink, a policy advocate at the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, which has been a vocal critic of the Schwarzenegger administration. "He hasn't changed the political culture in Sacramento. It's the status quo. He made everyone believe in him, that he wasn't the typical politician, and he's just like everyone else."

Marty Wilson, an adviser to Schwarzenegger who oversees his fund-raising efforts, said the governor raised so much money .. because he needed to pass a deficit-recovery bond and spending cap on the March ballot and then finance a possible ballot measure on workers' compensation that helped prod the Legislature into passing a reform package. Wilson said the governor also needed money to campaign against unsuccessful November ballot measures that would have expanded gaming in the state and weakened the state's "three strikes" criminal-sentencing law.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: calgov2002; california; governor; moneyraising; record; specialinterests

1 posted on 11/17/2004 9:27:22 AM PST by NormsRevenge
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To: NormsRevenge

ARGH....!


2 posted on 11/17/2004 9:28:32 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (A Proud member of Free Republic ~~The New Face of the Fourth Estate since 1996.)
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To: NormsRevenge

The People's Governor.


3 posted on 11/17/2004 9:28:42 AM PST by My2Cents ("The bombing begins in five minutes...")
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To: NormsRevenge
I have lost all confidence in Ahhnuld. You are finished in California.

Tom McClintock for Governor.

Send Ahhnuld back to Hollywood.

4 posted on 11/17/2004 9:30:09 AM PST by Nachum (We're All Americans, Let's Stand Together)
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To: NormsRevenge

Seems like a slanted article, did the money go to special campaigns?


5 posted on 11/17/2004 9:30:59 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (A Proud member of Free Republic ~~The New Face of the Fourth Estate since 1996.)
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To: NormsRevenge

And all this talk about changing the Constitution to permit the Gropinator to claim the presidency. Sheesh!


6 posted on 11/17/2004 9:31:31 AM PST by lilylangtree (Veni, Vidi, Vici)
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To: NormsRevenge
Marty Wilson, an adviser to Schwarzenegger who oversees his fund-raising efforts, said the governor raised so much money .. because he needed to pass a deficit-recovery bond and spending cap on the March ballot and then finance a possible ballot measure on workers' compensation that helped prod the Legislature into passing a reform package.

Yeah, right. That workman's comp "reform package" was a cynical joke compared to what was on the ballot initiative. The "spending cap" was actually designed to allow the legislature to borrow into perpetuity without going to the voters.

7 posted on 11/17/2004 9:32:06 AM PST by Carry_Okie (And the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.)
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To: NormsRevenge

The question is are they donating because he supports thier goals, or is he supporting their goals because they donate?

Maybe businesses in California are happy that they have a Governor that doesn't impede their business with political pandering to junk science and over regulation.


8 posted on 11/17/2004 9:33:28 AM PST by untrained skeptic
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To: All
Anarticle with a mission.....

Though committees for statewide candidates have contribution limits of $21,200 per donor, no such limit applied to committees for ballot measures

9 posted on 11/17/2004 9:33:38 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (A Proud member of Free Republic ~~The New Face of the Fourth Estate since 1996.)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Not sure what the difference is, quite frankly. Folks can make of it what they will, but shouldn't be fooled because of past behavior. (PS- I buy salt by the hundred pound sacks myself... lol)

And is the 'mission' so disgusting if it at least inpsires some debate and serious consideration, something we are sadly lacking in this 'shove it' mode of governance, more debt, more entrenchment of social spending for spendings sake.

I keep seeing more media bashing because of bias, but imo, the Gub is no innocent amidst all this as his agenda plays out, in more than one GReen fashion, mind you, and I'm not just talking greenbacks. Can you say Sierra Nevada Conservancy? ;-)

Using the example of the 2 Indian gaming props that went down to defeat readily and millions thrown at it from both sides, one wonders why the Gub felt it necessary to keep piling money on it, maybe to detract attention from his plum prop, 71?


10 posted on 11/17/2004 10:13:47 AM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ...... The War on Terrorism is the ultimate 'faith-based' initiative.)
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To: untrained skeptic

>>Maybe businesses in California are happy that they have a Governor that doesn't impede their business with political pandering to junk science and over regulation.

Yeah... he didn't impede the Stem-Cell vulture capitalists from passing a $3 Billion boondoggle to empty your pockets... in fact, he promoted it. I guess some of those "businesses" are very happy.


11 posted on 11/17/2004 10:34:46 AM PST by calcowgirl
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To: NormsRevenge
Sierra Nevada Conservancy

Don't like what he did there....

12 posted on 11/17/2004 10:42:06 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (A Proud member of Free Republic ~~The New Face of the Fourth Estate since 1996.)
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To: NormsRevenge

Let's see if he uses any of that money to help elect Republicans to the legislature so he can get his programs through.


13 posted on 11/17/2004 11:44:49 AM PST by dangus
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