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 ...
ARGH....!
The People's Governor.
Tom McClintock for Governor.
Send Ahhnuld back to Hollywood.
Seems like a slanted article, did the money go to special campaigns?
And all this talk about changing the Constitution to permit the Gropinator to claim the presidency. Sheesh!
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.
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.
Though committees for statewide candidates have contribution limits of $21,200 per donor, no such limit applied to committees for ballot measures
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?
>>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.
Don't like what he did there....
Let's see if he uses any of that money to help elect Republicans to the legislature so he can get his programs through.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.