Free Republic

The state prison guard union says Arnold Schwarzenegger should be removed from office for "gross fiscal mismanagement," "reckless borrowing," "soliciting and accepting special-interest money at levels never before seen in California history," "betraying voter trust and mortgaging our children's future." Hogwash. The California Correctional Peace Officers Association, which announced plans last week to recall the governor, couldn't care less about the state budget, good government or the financial plight of future generations. It's true that Schwarzenegger has broken all state fundraising records, making his recalled predecessor look inept at checkbook politics; irresponsibly borrowed his way out of budget deficits; and...

Sacramento -- The former federal receiver hired to improve California's troubled prison health care system misspent hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars before being fired last month, according to a state inspector general's report released Wednesday. Robert Sillen, who once threatened to "back up the Brink's truck" to the state's treasury to get the money needed to provide better inmate care, authorized $218,790 in overpayments to staff members for benefits such as health insurance and retirement that they already received, said the report, which found no evidence of fraud. In addition to millions spent on consultants and professional services, the...

Ruby Rippey-Tourk, the woman who had an affair with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, received $10,154 in unexplained retroactive pay after leaving her job as his commission appointments secretary, public records show. City Attorney Dennis Herrera said Thursday that privacy laws prohibit the city from explaining the basis for the payment or discussing hundreds of hours in paid leave that Rippey-Tourk also collected. In a written statement, Herrera said he is reviewing the payments to ensure they are proper "under city laws and procedures," adding that his office would have no further comment before that examination is concluded. Rippey-Tourk is...