The San Francisco Chronicle
reported today that buried in Governor Schwarzenegger’s budget proposal
is a $1 million reduction in the budget of the state political ethics
board, the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC). That $1 mil cut
would eliminate 15% of the agency’s overall budget, and 45% of the
discretionary funding it received last year. That means less
enforcement of the laws that try to keep politicians
honest….including Arnold himself.
In January, a court ruled that the Governor had violated the Political
Reform Act by loaning his campaign $4.5 million with the intention of
fundraising to pay back the money, and he would have to cover the
contribution himself. The FPPC is charged with enforcing the provisions
of the Political Reform Act. In February, our group filed a complaint
with the FPPC because Arnold’s complex of campaign committees allowed
him to hide the true source of funding for his bond & budget
measures on the March ballot, 57 & 58, by funneling money between
committees. Read the complaint. Just last week we received a call from the FPPC that made it clear that the Commission is still investigating.
Instead of sweeping Sacramento clean, the governor is cutting the janitorial staff.
Arnold’s "If you can’t beat ’em, terminate ’em" philosophy also seems
to apply to the high price of gasoline. He’s set to cut critical posts
at the California Energy Commission, rather than assign it to deal with
the oil industry practices leading to the high price of gasoline. Read the letter we sent to Arnold today.
Cleaning up government doesn’t mean throwing it out.
