LAT: Schwarzenegger Is Focus of Ethics Complaint

[DeepModem Mom]

Governor Is Focus of Ethics Complaint
Top Democrats say that Schwarzenegger's lucrative contract with a publisher violated state laws over political gifts.

By Peter Nicholas, Times Staff Writer


SACRAMENTO — Officials with the California Democratic Party said they intend to file a complaint today with a state watchdog agency over Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's lucrative consulting deal with a magazine publisher, saying that he ran afoul of conflict-of-interest and gift laws.

The complaint, to be filed with the Fair Political Practices Commission, would contend that the governor's multimillion-dollar agreement with the publisher was barred under state laws designed to keep public officials from getting excessive gifts or using their position for personal gain.

"We think that the governor's actions here are pretty outrageous," said Lance Olson, general counsel for the state Democratic Party. "He's lined his pockets and he's vetoed legislation that directly affects those people giving him money. And we think that violates several pretty clear provisions in the Political Reform Act."

At the same time, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez (D-Los Angeles) said that he is discussing with state lawyers the possibility of holding legislative hearings into Schwarzenegger's contract with Florida-based American Media Inc.

Margita Thompson, a spokeswoman for the governor, said there was no need for hearings, or an FPPC inquiry. In any case, she said, the issue is "moot" because Schwarzenegger ended the deal on Friday, a day after financial details were disclosed in newspaper reports....


http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-governor19jul19,0,5070498.story?coll=la-home-local

[realFedUp]

1. Can we get a recall please.

Repackaging him at this point is just
window dressing.

[zanne]

2. With a Democratic-controlled state legislature...

There's no excuse to let Schwarzenegger get away with this. This isn't the U.S. Congress, where a majority is Republican. An investigation is more than justified. Democrats in California have political capital to spend. As Arnold knows, it's the same way with muscles; you "Use 'em or lose 'em". It will be incredibly discouraging if the Dems don't use their muscle on this one.

[goclark]

3. Pleeae let my state let the sunshine in on a recall!

[gratuitous]

4. "The issue is moot, Ah-nuld ended the deal last week"

Does Ah-nuld's office really expect that to fly? "We didn't do nothin' wrong, and besides, we ain't doing it now, and we promise we won't do it again -- at least, not where you lot might find out about it."

How naked does the corruption have to be? Ah-nuld contracts with a private business for millions of dollars, then vetoes legislation unfavorable to that business, thwarting the will of the people as expressed by the legislature. This apparently doesn't bother California Republicans the likes of Darrel "Crybaby" Issa one whit.

[Tempest]

5. There should be a criminal investigation

There was a quid-pro-quo transaction by the Gropinator.

While receiving money from the magazines, the Gropinator vetoed a bill which would have put tighter restrictions on the sale of supplements.

Companies who make the supplements spend millions advertising in the magazines the Gropinator had the contracts with.

[Enraged_Ape]

6. Doesn't this guy have ENOUGH money?

Does he consider himself so cash-poor that he has to jeopardize his career for a few dollars more?

He has enough jack for his family and his children's children and THEIR children's children to live in the lap of luxury for their entire lives.

And wasn't this the guy who was supposed to be "untouchable" because of his wealth. Yeah, right.

What scum.

[fob]

7. "the issue is "moot" because Schwarzenegger ended the deal on Friday"?

Can I get a WTF!?!

Let's see, I'm gonna print that story out and next time I'm pulled over for speeding I'm gonna hand it to the officer with that part highlighted.

Why you pullin' me over, bitch?

You were doing 87 mph in a 65 mph zone.

What, that issue is "moot" because I'm doing ZERO now.


I'm sure it'll work just fine.

:eyes:

[Ernesto]

8. What about the 20 other secret deals he has going?

"Despite the furor that prompted Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to drop his $5 million magazine deal last week, his aides declined Monday to provide additional details on income he is receiving from 20 other businesses that each paid more than $10,000 last year to his personal holding company."

http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/ca/story/13259651p-14102189c.html

[Kelvin Mace]

9. GOP logic:

The fact that I murdered someone is moot, since they are now dead and I am no longer murdering them.

[cal04]

10. Judge Threatens Contempt Over Hospital Rule

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was hit with another ethics complaint over his magazine contracts Tuesday, while a judge threatened to hold him in contempt of court for suspending the state's hospital staffing rules.

The ethics complaint, filed by the California Democratic Party, was the second to allege Schwarzenegger broke state ethics laws by serving as a paid consultant to fitness magazines that derive most of their profits from the nutritional supplements industry.

Schwarzenegger vetoed legislation last year that would have regulated nutritional supplements.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB1M7NXCBE.html