Posted on 09/18/2003 7:05:36 PM PDT by PhiKapMom
Schwarzenegger unveils political reform plan
By Adam Tanner, Reuters
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Reuters) - As a court across town examined his main Democratic rival's campaign finances, California gubernatorial candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger called for reforms Thursday that could put politicians in jail for currently acceptable campaign finance practices. "The people of this state do not trust their government," he said in front of a 19th century locomotive in the state railroad museum. "They feel it is corrupted by dirty money, closed doors and backroom deals." "They see contributions go in, the favors go out, and the people are punished with wasteful spending and high taxes." At the same time as his press conference, a Sacramento court heard a lawsuit charging that Democratic Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, who leads Schwarzenegger in recent polls, had improperly placed money into an old campaign fund to skirt current limits ahead of an Oct. 7 gubernatorial recall election. Publicity about six-figure contributions to Bustamante's old campaign fund from Indian gaming interests and unions have dogged the candidate's campaign in recent days. Meanwhile, the future of the Oct. 7 election to recall Democratic Gov. Gray Davis and choose a replacement remained uncertain, pending a decision by a U.S. appeals court on whether to review its decision on Monday delaying balloting until March.
Davis campaigned in Los Angeles with civil rights activist Jesse Jackson. Davis, borrowing a phrase from Jackson, urged voters to "make it nice, vote no twice" by casting ballots against the recall and against a controversial measure that would stop the state collecting racially based data.
Schwarzenegger, tanned and wearing a three-button gray suit jacket and light purple tie, said the law should be changed to make political funding tricks felonies.
"As governor, I will propose legislation to make the willful violation of campaign finance laws a felony punishable by up to one year in prison," he said. Schwarzenegger declined to say whether he thought Bustamante had skirted present campaign finance laws.
NO COMMENT ON CRUZ
"That is something for the experts to decide. I do not pay so much attention to such things," he said. "Everything that I have said just now relates to future events. We want to prevent all of those things from happening."
The multi-millionaire actor -- whose past openness about sex and drugs have raised questions on the campaign trail -- , also proposed making more functions of the government open to the public, including internal e mails. He also called for a ban on campaign fund-raising during the months the state budget is under discussion.
As Bustamante campaigned in a different part of the state, a Sacramento County Superior Court Judge tried to cut through the complexities of California's campaign financing laws as they apply to Bustamante's campaign.
"We're talking about six- and seven-figure contributions made many months after the relevant election," said Attorney Eric Grant, representing State Sen. Ross Johnson in arguing Bustamante had not held to $22,200 limits on contributions.
Bustamante's lawyer Deborah Caplan replied: "What the Lt. Gov has done is follow the law precisely." She also said he was using the money for ads featuring Bustamante talking about a controversial initiative banning the state's gathering of racial information. "The money is not going to be used for the gubernatorial race," she said.
Schwarzenegger also criticized conservative Republican Tom McClintock, who has enough support in polls to possibly deprive the actor victory, for also taking money from Indian tribes with casino gaming interests.
"The question I have for him is: on what side is he on?" he said. "Does he represent the Republicans or does he represent Bustamante, because he is getting money from the same Indian tribes."
Reuters/VNU
09/18/03 21:12 ET
NOTE: My bold!
I know that the election won't take place if the 3 judge panel isn't overturned prior to the stay expiring.
BTW, did it ever get cleared up if you were a lawyer for the ACLU that filed the lawsuit to stop this election?
Give the trolling a rest.
Something that bothers me about your statement on the election -- if McC is gaining so fast in the polls and has so much support, why wouldn't you want an election in October?
Again, you resort to trolling rather than serious discussion. My disgust with the 9th Circuit's decision has been quite vocal on this forum.
That was my feeling and why I made some calls to some folks here today to find out reaction from Republican conservatives in the heart of the OK Indian Nations. To a person, they replied they would "NEVER" accept any contributions from gambling interest, Indian or otherwise, and if a tribe made a donation to a Republican (note I said Tribe not an individual tribal member), they would think the DemocRATs were behind the contribution.
The stay has been postponed indefinitely. That is a strong indication that the full court is going to overturn the panel's decision, and my guess is that it will be sometime next week.
Too late for that. The Schwarzenegger campaign is getting desperate and finds itself caught behind the eight ball. Arnold's refusal to debate is just another example that he is a political empty suit and unworthy of holding public office. The distortions and outrages aimed at Tom McClintock will only escalate between now and recall election day. Which we all should hope and pray takes place on Oct7TH. This frivilous accusation against McClintock, on the issue of donations from Indian gambling associations, is a non-issue. If the Arnoldnauts paid as much attention to McClintock press releases, as they do to Arnold's press releases, the'd get a clearer understanding of what conservative Tom McClintock and his campaign is all about. They'd get the truth, instead of a bunch of pre-fabricated rhetoric. The same stuff that is spoon fed to Arnold the liberal.
Taking money from a sovereign nation to conduct a domestic political campaign is a big fat "NO".
From my perspactive McClintock has stubbed his toe on this one.
Yes, the money from the casinos was over the limit, but he did some creative moving around of funds that isn't ethical and perhaps not legal. The perhaps part is the PC version, it isn't, period.
You and me both!
New York City had Rudy who had many liberal ideas and conservative. He worked good for his city and left his office knowing the job in honor. The governor of NY is a liberal republican.
The democrats need to be stopped before they can do irreversible harm to our jobs, economy, business, citizenship, education, and medical care and infrastructure.
There is a strong possibility someone like Arnold could work just as well for California. McClintock would be magnificent, but it is getting the predominant left-wing in this State to see his truth and ability.
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