Free Republic

California consumer affairs chief resigns Carrie Lopez, director of the California Department of Consumer Affairs, resigned Friday in the wake of disclosures about expenses she charged to taxpayers. Carrie Lopez quits when shown results of a state audit that found questionable expenses she incurred. The findings went beyond those reported earlier this month by The Times, an official says. By Michael Rothfeld March 28, 2009 Reporting from Sacramento -- The director of the California Department of Consumer Affairs resigned Friday in the wake of disclosures about expenses she charged to taxpayers, including for transportation to attend a Justin Timberlake concert...

Department of Consumer Affairs Director Carrie Lopez submitted her resignation Friday after an internal audit determined she made "questionable" travel expense claims. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Lopez to the $142,965-a-year post in 2007. "A Department of Finance audit of her travel found questionable expenses," said Schwarzenegger press secretary Aaron McLear. "When presented with the findings, she offered her resignation. She will have the opportunity to justify those expenses and will repay the state for any expenses she cannot justify." McLear would not offer specifics of her expense problems because he said Lopez needs time to review them before they are...

Rosario Marin Accepted Money For Speeches, Governor's Office Says SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- California's secretary for the State and Consumer Services Agency has resigned after accepting money for giving speeches, the governor's office said Thursday. Rosario Marin heads the agency that oversees the Franchise Tax Board and the Department of Consumer Affairs. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office does not permit cabinet members to receive income for making speeches because it presents a potential conflict of interest. Marin gave speeches to private companies, including those doing business with the agency. She was paid for a speaking engagement with pharmaceutical companies shortly after her...

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...

Reporting from Sacramento -- John Cruz, the appointments secretary for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, lives hundreds of miles from the state Capitol, where his staff scrutinizes candidates for California's many boards and commissions. When Cruz works there, he goes by plane. He has charged taxpayers for his flights and for hotel bills of up to $382 a night on regular trips between his Orange County home and Sacramento, records show. Carrie Lopez, director of the Department of Consumer Affairs, charged taxpayers to fly from Sacramento, where she works, to Los Angeles, where she lives, to attend a Justin Timberlake concert with...