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Californian taxpayers paid millions of dollars too much for Oracle database software and support, thanks to a former Oracle employee, and his assistant, who now works for Oracle's law company. Normal competitive tendering rules were not followed, and the pair were pressured by staff from Governor Gray Davis office to sign an Enterprise Licensing Agreement covering far more users than the state actually employees in a deal worth $93 million. Governor Davis' office received $25,000 in campaign contributions gift five days after the deal was signed. Fishy? You bet. But the scandal has found its first scapegoats in the shape...

May 6, 2002 Hearing Set on Oracle Deal Government: State lawmakers begin probe of controversial $95-million software agreement, even as officials try to rescind it.      By MIGUEL BUSTILLO and JULIE TAMAKI, Times Staff Writers SACRAMENTO -- State lawmakers will delve into the details of California's controversial computer contract with Oracle Corp. today, hoping to learn more about a $95-million deal that gave the state more software than there are state employees and is turning into a major embarrassment for the Davis administration. State officials are already moving to undo the contract after a scathing audit last month that...

<p>Sacramento -- As Oracle Corp. seeks to boost government contracts, the software company has carefully channeled its major campaign contributions to a select few California politicians wielding the most power over its livelihood.</p> <p>Just about every elected official who has received a major contribution from Oracle has some measure of control over Oracle government business, or held influence over the $95 million software contract that has embarrassed the company and Gov. Gray Davis.</p>

<p>A $95 million state software no-bid contract is the center of controversy.</p> <p>SACRAMENTO – Lawmakers probing Oracle Corp.'s $95 million state software contract zeroed in on two key Davis administration officials Saturday as the Senate prepared to approve twice-vetoed legislation that would close a major loophole in California's high-tech contracting.</p>

Oracle puts Simon on the attack Davis denies impropriety but software deal now a campaign issue Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer Sunday, May 5, 2002 With polls in his favor and $30 million in his campaign war chest, Democratic Gov. Gray Davis was angling for a smooth sail to his 2002 re- election -- until this week, when he ran into what Republicans hope will become the "perfect storm" of campaign issues for his opponent, Bill Simon. Questions about a $95 million no-bid state contract with Oracle Corp. -- which the state auditor said could cost taxpayers $41 million more...

<p>Wide-ranging investigations into the state's $95 million computer software contract with Oracle Corp. began focusing Friday on the role of Logicon Inc., which brokered the suspect deal.</p> <p>Attorney General Bill Lockyer said he was zeroing in on the role of the Virginia-based information technology company, which served as consultant to the state and stands to collect as much as $28.5 million from the Oracle contract.</p>

SACRAMENTO – Gov. Gray Davis scrambled yesterday to contain a computer software scandal that threatens to become a dominant issue in his re-election campaign. The governor said his administration has opened talks to scrap a $95 million contract with Oracle Corp., which he insisted was approved without his knowledge. He also took credit for removing three state officials who promoted or signed off on the much-criticized deal. "I had no idea this contract was being negotiated," Davis told reporters. "I think most of you know I'm barely on the information on-ramp, much less proficient in technology. So this is...

It won't be easy, or cheap, to cancel deal RIPPLE EFFECT: Bank has already spent millions, likely to want money back Carrie Kirby, Chronicle Staff Writer Saturday, May 4, 2002 Undoing the state's deal to buy $95 million worth of Oracle software may not be easy. Although both sides say they are willing to walk away from the deal, labyrinthine financial maneuvers after Oracle's agreement with the state make it difficult to see who has California's money now and who is obligated to return it. "While we are prepared to unwind our involvement in the contract, there are multiple parties...

MIDI - CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' Surplus is all gone…it's been blown away Ask our governor what he has to say He says not to worry…it will all be okay Califonia's screamin'…we must get rid of Gray Oracle's a mess…shredding goes on today Someone's sleeping at the switch…the state's in disarray While Davis says he's in control…and it will be okay Califonia's screamin'…we must get rid of Gray (musical interlude) Simon is the man…help is on the way Give him your support…no time for delay He says we should worry…things are not okay Califonia's screamin'…we must get rid of Gray We...

"Email Traffic Would Indicate the Governor Himself May Have Been Aware of the Oracle Coutract" SANTA MONICA - This morning Republican gubernatorial nominee Bill Simon made the following statements concerning the Oracle scandal currently engulfing the governor's office: "Yesterday, I voiced my grave concern about published reports that Governor Gray Davis' Administration was actively attempting to suppress a legislative investigation of the $95 million Oracle software scandal."After reading this morning's Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Bee, and virtually every newspaper in the state, my concern has turned to shock. I am greatly saddened at the revelations that a high-ranking Davis Administration...

<p>SACRAMENTO -- Gov. Gray Davis, under fire for his administration's approval of a $95 million no-bid software contract that could cost taxpayers an extra $41 million, said Friday that he wants to toss out the deal with Oracle Corp.</p> <p>"We are working closely with the attorney general and negotiators to try and rescind this contract," Davis said.</p>

SACRAMENTO -- Whether or not the scandal over California's $95 million software deal with Oracle Corp. rises to the level of a political corruption case, it still has potential to color the gubernatorial debate in a way that benefits Republican challenger Bill Simon. The Oracle fiasco is ugly and embarrassing. Billed as a money-saver, the software-licensing agreement could cost the state $41 million more than if there were no contract. It's led to three high-level resignations, provided the spectacle of police entering a state office building to prevent document shredding, Gov. Gray Davis said Friday he's been working for weeks...

Focus shifts to 2nd firm in probe of Oracle pact CONFLICT INQUIRY: Logicon advised state while helping software company Robert Salladay, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau Saturday, May 4, 2002 Sacramento -- As executives for Oracle Corp. and the state huddled Friday to cancel a flawed $95 million software contract, Attorney General Bill Lockyer focused his growing investigation on an Oracle business partner that allegedly hid its involvement in the final deal. Investigators are looking into whether Logicon, a division of Northrop Grumman and an Oracle reseller in California, violated conflict-of-interest laws by consulting with the state on technology issues while working...

Oracle lobbyist had questionable ethical past Mehta once fined for violating political reform laws he enforced Greg Lucas, Lynda Gledhill, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau Saturday, May 4, 2002 Sacramento -- One man was a longtime Capitol operative, an Oracle Corp. lobbyist whose career had already been marred by a fine for violating the political ethics rules he once enforced. The other was a young loyalist to Gov. Gray Davis who had worked on the governor's campaign and was rewarded with a post as chief technology adviser. It was a simple over-drinks exchange last June of a $25,000 campaign check from Oracle's...

PALO ALTO, Calif. (Reuters) - At a time when Oracle Corp. was already grappling with slumping sales, a key executive departure and a stock price hovering near three-year lows, the No. 2 software maker has now become embroiled in a controversy over a deal with the state of California. Analysts said that while it is not clear whether Oracle did anything wrong, the controversy surrounding the $95 million deal has brought the company's selling -- and discounting -- practices under public scrutiny, an unwelcome distraction as Oracle heads into the last weeks of its fourth quarter, when it traditionally...

<p>Sacramento, California, May 3 (Bloomberg) -- California Governor Gray Davis is working to cancel a $95 million contract to buy software from Oracle Corp. as the state attorney general launches a criminal investigation into the deal.</p> <p>Davis's director of legal affairs, Barry Goode, is meeting with Oracle officials today and throughout the weekend to talk about the possibility of rescinding the contract to buy database management software, said Davis's press Secretary Steve Maviglio.</p>

<p>Aide who took donation for Davis resigns By Published 2:15 a.m. PDT Gov. Gray Davis' director of e-government personally accepted a $25,000 political contribution from a lobbyist for the Oracle Corp. last year, shortly after the state signed a controversial long-term software contract with the company, The Bee learned Thursday.</p>

<p>Please please please help us keep the pressure on Governor Gray in California.</p> <p>With the growing Oracle scandal here in the state there is a desperate attempt by Governor Davis to avoid taking any responsibility for his own administration's corruption (and defrauding of taxpayers).</p>

By DAN MORAIN and NANCY VOGEL, Times Staff Writers SACRAMENTO -- California Highway Patrol officers moved in Thursday to halt shredding at the state's information technology department, and Gov. Gray Davis suspended the agency's chief amid a widening investigation of the state's multimillion-dollar computer contract with Oracle Corp. As those developments were unfolding in the Capitol, Davis' director of e-government, Arun Baheti, quit. His resignation came one day after he acknowledged to Davis aides that he had personally accepted a $25,000 Oracle check for the governor's reelection committee, which reported receiving the money two weeks after the state signed the...

Davis ousts aide in Oracle flap CAMPAIGN DONATION: Adviser took check while negotiating tech deal DOCUMENT SEARCH: Several state departments told to halt shredding Robert Salladay, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau Friday, May 3, 2002 Sacramento -- Gov. Gray Davis forced his chief technology adviser to resign Thursday after he admitted meeting an Oracle lobbyist at a bar and accepting a $25,000 check for the governor's campaign while negotiations over an Oracle software contract were taking place. Arun Baheti resigned unexpectedly on a day in which Oracle offered to cancel the controversial $95 million contract with California, state police snooped out allegations...