Posted on 03/01/2006 10:46:35 AM PST by CounterCounterCulture
(Sacramento) – Taxpayer Advocate Tony Strickland has filed a request pursuant to the California Public Records Act for all documents surrounding the decision of a California commission to funnel millions in public funds into a television advertising campaign that may have been designed to boost an initiative petition being circulated by a member of the commission.
The Sacramento Bee broke the story in December, with a more recent Los Angeles Times story highlighting the fact that more than $23 million of public funds was spent by the First 5 Commission on a television advertising campaign promoting “Preschool for All.” Meanwhile, an initiative petition for a measure with the same name – “Preschool for All” – was being circulated for the ballot by one of the commission’s members, actor Rob Reiner.
“This isn’t going away, and it shouldn’t,” said Strickland, who has been a leading critic of the commission’s cronyism and no-bid contract procedures. “We need to determine if, in fact, there was a conscious decision to spend this huge amount of public money to assist the qualification of an initiative petition. Just as importantly, we need to make sure that the people’s money will not be spent on commercials promoting an initiative during the election campaign. All we’re looking for is transparency, which unfortunately, has not characterized the actions of this commission to date.”
Strickland, a former Assemblyman who now serves as Taxpayer Advocate for California Club for Growth, called the Public Documents request “a reasonable and measured response aimed at answering the obvious questions raised by the Times story. There is a clear implication of an inappropriate use of public funds and that needs to be laid to rest, as well as suggestions of cronyism in the awarding of these no-bid contracts.” The Times story revealed that the same advisors have been paid by the commission, as well as by the campaign committee supporting the “Preschool for All” initiative. In addition, more than $170 million in contracts were awarded to the firm that helped pass Proposition 10, the tobacco tax initiative that created the First 5 Commission.
The Public Documents filing requests copies of all commission minutes and documents relating to the commission’s decisions, as well as all communications among the parties, including email and telephone logs.
Strickland is a candidate for State Controller in 2006.
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I have to laugh at the Left's inability to stop spending other peoples' money on their pet lunatic causes.
Yes, and how much of taxpayer's money did "meathead" and his crony's draw in salary. I'm one of the victims of his 50 cent per pack "tax" that he controls.
This "Pre-School For All" initiative should be renamed to what it actually is..."Daycare On Someone Else's Dime"
Strickland ping. I still keep up:)
merry10
The fallout has already begun. I read today that Don Perata has withdrawn support of the meathead initiative, claiming its too expensive.
Speaking of salaries, Joe Kennedy, Jr., voted "Dumbest Man in Congress" by his fellows, is paid $375,000 a year to be the "president" of Citizens Fuel Cooperative. His duties? He makes one TV commercial a year saying how wonderful he is.
Linking other thread...
Perata changes mind on Prop. 82 [Meathead's Goverment-Nanny Initiative]
ping
Bump!
Good luck to Strickland.
Ventura County Ping!
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