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Fuss over GM contract reminiscent of Gov. Gray Davis' Oracle debacle [Schwarzenegger Scandal]
San Jose Mercury News ^ | 09/26/2007 | By Dan Walters

Posted on 09/26/2007 2:13:18 PM PDT by ElkGroveDan

Five years ago, California's Capitol was mesmerized by a full-blown legislative investigation into how a $100 million software contract was awarded to Oracle Corp., bypassing the usual bidding channels.

....

Kennedy is back in the "horseshoe," as the governor's Capitol suite is called, as chief of staff to Davis' successor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Florez is still pursuing scandal as a state senator and chairman of the Senate Governmental Operations Committee. He now wants her or some other top Schwarzenegger aide to testify at a hearing this week on another contract that was issued under somewhat questionable circumstances, this one to auto giant General Motors in 2005 for 1,138 cars that were to run on alternative fuel but have been burning gasoline for lack of refueling stations.

Florez contends that usual bidding procedures were bypassed, that specifications were changed to make General Motors the only potential supplier of "flexible fuel" vehicles capable of operating on fuel that was mostly ethanol, and that internal General Motors and Department of General Services memos indicate that the firm had the $17 million contract sewn up before anyone else could bid. He also cites Schwarzenegger's many connections to General Motors, including his much-heralded use of a GM Hummer and the firm's supplying cars for the governor's trips to Japan and China.

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


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Government; US: California
KEYWORDS: ca; california; deanflorez; flexfuel; generalmotors; schwarzenegger
Arnold has populated his high-level staff with Gray Davis' old flunkies, and their liberal cronies. Is anyone surprised that we are getting the same-ol', same-ol'?
1 posted on 09/26/2007 2:13:20 PM PDT by ElkGroveDan
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To: calcowgirl; NormsRevenge; SierraWasp

ping


2 posted on 09/26/2007 2:14:05 PM PDT by ElkGroveDan (Take the wheel, Fred.)
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To: ElkGroveDan

Recall!


3 posted on 09/26/2007 2:34:30 PM PDT by CounterCounterCulture (Duncan Hunter/Alan Keyes '08)
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To: ElkGroveDan; calcowgirl; tubebender; hedgetrimmer; forester; NormsRevenge; Carry_Okie; ...
Same crappola... Only by a "REPUBLICAN*" Governor this time!!!

Sure makes me glad I left the "PARTY," before having to claim any responsibility for THIS IDIOT!!!

CA is in such vast difficulty and bondage...But, no body seems to give a chit about it, or the CA GOP or conservatism at "the box office!!!" (gag!)

4 posted on 09/26/2007 2:38:48 PM PDT by SierraWasp (WOW!!! We've Move(d)On.org from Hillery's Testicular Lock Box, to Hillery's Chinese Hsu Box!!!)
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To: CounterCounterCulture
The only thing the current CA GOP can recall is Republican Gov. EARL WARREN and Republican Gov. HIRAM JOHNSON!!! (Talk about a pair to draw to!)
5 posted on 09/26/2007 2:41:39 PM PDT by SierraWasp (WOW!!! We've Move(d)On.org from Hillery's Testicular Lock Box, to Hillery's Chinese Hsu Box!!!)
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To: ElkGroveDan

What is Democrat Dean Florez angle on this? Is he protecting other special interests? Looking to run for a statewide office?


6 posted on 09/26/2007 3:03:18 PM PDT by newzjunkey (Pope to politicians: "(Do) not to allow children to be considered as a form of illness.")
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To: SierraWasp

Repellicans are poor substitutes for real Republicans!


7 posted on 09/26/2007 3:39:43 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Turning the general election into a second Democrat primary is not a winning strategy.)
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To: ElkGroveDan

bump


8 posted on 09/26/2007 4:21:41 PM PDT by lowbridge (All I Have To Say Is....KERMIT THE FROG IS IN SESAME STREET GOD DAMNIT!)
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To: ElkGroveDan

No surprise. I actually think this is the tip of the iceberg when one considers those hydrogen fueling stations, stem-cell research, solar roofs, and of course the “infrastructure” bondage. You are talking upwards of $60 billion dollars to play with (before considering the financing scams.)

Cross reference to two prior threads:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1868469/posts

CA: Lawmakers accuse governor of fixing deal (for a fleet of alternative fuel vehicles)
Contra Costa Times ^ | 7/19/07 | Kimberly Kindy
Posted on 07/19/2007 10:07:06 AM PDT by NormsRevenge

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1900841/posts

Schwarzenegger may have pushed for General Motors to get lucrative state contract
Mercury News ^ | 9/22/07 | Kimberly Kindy
Posted on 09/22/2007 8:00:35 PM PDT by NormsRevenge


9 posted on 09/26/2007 4:54:46 PM PDT by calcowgirl ("Liberalism is just Communism sold by the drink." P. J. O'Rourke)
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To: editor-surveyor
"Repellicans"

Did you git permisshun to freely use my copyrighted adjective??? (grin) I want a royalty!!! (evil grin)

10 posted on 09/27/2007 11:13:36 AM PDT by SierraWasp (WOW!!! We've Move(d)On.org from Hillery's Testicular Lock Box, to Hillery's Chinese Hsu Box!!!)
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To: calcowgirl

Heaven forbid an American company get a contract.


11 posted on 09/27/2007 11:16:52 AM PDT by BurbankKarl
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To: ElkGroveDan

iirc, GM vehicles were the only FlexFuel vehicles that year.

I dont know why the Mercury News needs to sling mud on Arnold, he is already on their side. If the State was serious about any of this crap, Flex Fuel would be mandated on every purchase by every agency from 2005 forward.


12 posted on 09/27/2007 6:19:16 PM PDT by BurbankKarl
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To: BurbankKarl
iirc, GM vehicles were the only FlexFuel vehicles that year.

Yeah but Walters point was that the contract specifying FlexFuel is what stinks. There had been no previous intent to pursue those vehicles and there are only 2 gas stations in all of California to buy the other gas. It was a sweetheart deal put together to benefit GM.

13 posted on 09/27/2007 6:51:43 PM PDT by ElkGroveDan (Take the wheel, Fred.)
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To: ElkGroveDan

There are no privately owned Hyrdogen stations, yet there are all kinds of those cars in test fleets.

You arent going to be able to get the infrastructure developed without deploying vehicles. The problems is CAs anti Walmart policies also, as they have been looking hard at e85 pumps at all their stations. There are three US Govt pumps in CA, and 2 private stations in San Diego County, and 1 slated to open in LA County.

I have seen more biowillie cars here in SoCal.....and that is much more grassroots IMHO


14 posted on 09/27/2007 7:36:22 PM PDT by BurbankKarl
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To: BurbankKarl
OK well you lost me. The point of the article was that Arnold’s people set up an unnecessary cherry deal for GM who have been supporting him. It smacks of Gray Davis all over again.
15 posted on 09/27/2007 9:30:15 PM PDT by ElkGroveDan (Take the wheel, Fred.)
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