On Friday, the state’s Fair
Political Practices Commission (FPPC) took a big step toward limiting
the corrosive influence of money on politicians when it approved a
landmark regulation to extend candidate contribution limits to include
donations to ballot measure committees those candidates control.
Last week, Governor Schwarzenegger’s campaign lawyers argued against
the move, which will limit the amount of money Governor Schwarzenegger
can solicit to his web of committees — limiting donations to $21,200
in all cases, a significant drop from the $250,000 Arnold has taken in
at once from individual contributors.
Did the Governor find the ruling "fantastic?" Not this time. The Sacramento Bee
reports that Schwarzenegger attorney Chuck Bell said of the decision:
"When you look at a piece of Swiss cheese, it does have holes in it."
Without a qualm, Team Arnold is looking for the loophole to allow the
Gov’s unlimited fundraising to continue before the ink on the
regulation is even dry.
It appears that Schwarzenegger is using the wrong end of his broom. Far
from sweeping out the special interests, Arnold is poking holes in
campaign finance law instead.
