Monday — a work day for most Californians — is a day out of the office for Arnold. Way out. Click here to view the invitation
to a "Salute to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger" in Chicago. While in
Chicago, Arnold is hardly conducting the People’s Business: the
"Salute" is a high-priced fundraiser headed by two fellas with less
than the California people’s interests in mind.
Patrick Ryan, the Co-Chairman of the Chicago fundraiser, is the head of
AON, one of the world’s largest insurance brokers, which just had to
pay a $190 million fine in the wake of an Elliott Spitzer investigation
into shady practices. And, Aon is deeply involved with California’s
workers’ comp market. (Could this fundraiser be a thank-you for last
year’s workers’ comp law?)
Co-Chair #2 is real estate magnate Sam Zell. Zell was recently
described in the Monterey County Herald as a "vulture investor" for
what he is doing to mobile home residents in California. According to
the Herald, Zell has dramatically raised rents on residents in
Castroville, despite a local effort to resist the rent increase. One
resident said: "We’ve gone to everyone in the state pleading for help
but no one is willing to go up against this company." Click here for more info.
Now, it’s not fair to say that Arnold is spending his entire day
fundraising in Illinois. He is flying to Texas for another money grab
that evening.
