SACRAMENTO, CA — Some of the most influential business leaders who’ve underwritten Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s trips abroad will now have to do so more openly under a rule adopted Monday by the state’s political ethics
watchdog agency.
The rule will prohibit private groups from
providing gifts such as travel expenses to agencies on behalf of
elected officials and others — a practice employed by Schwarzenegger
that has been criticized as too secretive. Starting in July, the Fair
Political Practices Commission will require donors to make gifts
directly to officials, who must report the details on their publicly
available statements of financial interest.
"The commission is
moving to close loopholes and making sure gifts that are intended for
high-ranking government officials cannot be made behind the public’s
back," said Ross Johnson, the chairman of the commission. "If someone
wants to pay for an official’s travel they can make a gift directly to
that official if it’s within the gift limits and is fully disclosed by
the official."
Under another rule adopted Monday, elected
officials will now have to explain what political purpose their
donor-paid trips to California wineries, day spas or golf courses could
possibly have.
A previous rules change approved in February would
have required lawmakers to report only out-of-state travel — the kind
that resulted in a lavish spending spree by then-Speaker Fabian Nunez,
D-Los Angeles, last year.
The
new rules, which begin next month and will apply to the November
elections, will also require lawmakers to not only report but briefly
describe the political, governmental or legislative purpose of meals
and gifts paid for out of campaign funds.
"This is a huge step
forward in shining the light on campaign expenditures," said Carmen
Balber, political accountability director at Consumer Watchdog, a group
that monitors campaign finance reporting. "My hope is that it will rein
in personal extravagances … and make politicians think twice before
misusing campaign funds."
A spokesman for Schwarzenegger said he
would adapt to the change requiring supporters to list their travel
subsidies as gifts directly to him.
"The governor always has and will continue to abide by whatever reporting rules the FPPC adopts," said Aaron McLear.
The
private network of Schwarzenegger supporters that have paid for his
travel has stayed largely out of public view by filing its
contributions as gifts to the governor’s office. Under the current
rules, Balber said, the governor’s office has kept minimal records and
been stingy in providing what details it had.
"Now, the governor
won’t be able to pretend that the organization is just giving money to
his office, and to say that his office is benefitting, not the
governor," Balber said. "The public will be able to see the amount and
description of what the trip was for."
The California Protocol
Foundation has spent more than $2 million since 2004 for foreign trade
trips Schwarzenegger and aides have taken to Asia, Canada and Mexico.
The group is headed by California Chamber of Commerce President Allan
Zaremberg and California Business Roundtable President William Hauck.
The foundation also paid for a trip the governor took last year to Britain and France and to his hometown in Austria.
Please contact Steven Harmon at 916-441-2101 or [email protected]
