Top Schwarzenegger staff travel on taxpayer's dime

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | Saturday, February 28, 2009

[ElkGroveDan]

Despite a ban on nonessential travel, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's top administrative officials charged taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars for airfare, hotel stays and meals with virtually no oversight, according to a published report.

Expense reports and calendars for 10 high-ranking staff members from Southern California — including three cabinet members — show many of the expenses were incurred after the governor issued an executive order a year ago requiring state agencies to reduce travel costs due to California's budget crisis, the Los Angeles Times reported on its Web site late Friday.

....Carrie Lopez, the director of the Department of Consumer Affairs, billed the state transportation costs to attend a Justin Timberlake concert with her daughter.

And Rosario Marin, head of the State and Consumer Services Agency, reimbursed the state $582 after the newspaper inquired about her flight to Washington to speak at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, an appearance for which she received $1,000. ...

Lopez, who attended the Justin Timberlake concert at Staples Center in Los Angeles, attributed her transportation cost to a "meeting" with Sempra Energy executive Debra Reed.

Sempra paid for the concert tickets but the company's spokeswoman, April Bolduc, said: "We didn't have any business with them."

Lopez, whose agency is to protect consumers, routinely charged the state for meals while working in Los Angeles — even when she received the same meals for free. According to her filings with the state's Fair Political Practices Commission, Lopez collected $40 for meals and incidentals on June 23, 2007, the same day Bank of America paid $51.64 for her to attend a luncheon.

The same happened Sept. 2, 2007 when Sempra spent $216.02 on her dinner, refreshments and a ticket to a Beyonce concert.

"Sometimes I attend these events and I don't eat," Lopez said.

[ElkGroveDan]

Carrie Lopez, the director of the Department of Consumer Affairs, billed the state transportation costs to attend a Justin Timberlake concert with her daughter.

Blowing up boxes? Or living in them?

[freekitty]

I don’t think these people realize they are only important to themselves.

[kingu]

I find it slightly ironic that less than a week after the Chronicle went out of it’s way to explain how important newspapers are, how much they uncover with their experience and in-depth reporting, that they spew out an article that wouldn’t pass muster on FreeRepublic, for re-typing the Los Angeles Times article almost in it’s entirety.

Shame they couldn’t kick a few nickels to the LA Times and the author of the investigation instead of outright stealing it for their own profit. Oh, right, liberal standards - if it weren’t double standards, it’d be no standards at all...

[freekitty]

She’s just having a high old time on the taxpayer’s dime. Wonder how many others there are; especially ones that denounce business for expense reports. The rules on expense reports are quite explicit. Apparently that doesn’t apply to our wheeling dealing government.

[randog]

Officials justified their travel as necessary for state business but some built weekend trips around short meetings. Others charged the state to attend events with no apparent connection to their jobs.

Here in the state where high tech was invented, state officials haven't figured out how to hook up a phone/pc conference.

Right.

[okie01]

Here in the state where high tech was invented, state officials haven't figured out how to hook up a phone/pc conference.

But a phone or pc conference wouldn't get you to the Justin Timberlake concert in LA...

[dragnet2]

IT’S ON! REVOLT, RECALL & REPEAL!

2009 Tax Revolt is on!

Make your voice heard!

Join John and Ken Saturday March 7, from 3-6 PM Doors open at 3, live broadcast 4-6

The Slidebar Café is located in the Fullerton, California Transportation Center. Take your car, take the train or take the bus. Whatever you do take the time to come out and be heard!

Plenty of free parking

For directions http://www.kfiam640.com/pages/johnandkenshow/

Go to site to print out fliers

*********Take it to the streets*********

[calcowgirl]

Lopez, whose agency is to protect consumers...

I've had about enough of the "protection" offered by the State.

Who will protect me from these holier-than-thou bureaucrats?