Details of (CA) Governor's Travel Costs Lacking

Los Angeles Times ^ | December 10, 2007 | Paul Pringle

[kellynla]

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office has avoided fully disclosing payments of $1.7 million in nonprofit funds for private jets, hotel suites and support staff for his trips overseas, according to state documents and interviews.

Record-keeping for many of the governor's luxury-class jaunts has been by word of mouth. Asked how the staff tracks the costs, subject to public disclosure laws, Schwarzenegger attorney Daniel Maguire said: "Orally."

In late 2004, the multimillionaire governor stopped reporting the travel expenses on state disclosure forms that itemize gifts to elected officials. Instead, Schwarzenegger's top aides recorded some of the costs -- and made only general references to others -- in memos they wrote to themselves and filed away in the governor's legal affairs office.

Several of the memos did not include dollar amounts, even though regulations under the state Political Reform Act require that such figures be disclosed in a written public record within 30 days of payment. After The Times asked for those amounts -- some missing since 2004 -- the governor's office took more than two months to produce them.

Schwarzenegger has frequently called for more transparency -- what he calls the "antiseptic of sunshine" -- in state government. But nonprofit watchdogs and open-government advocates called his aides' handling of the travel costs deceptive, a way to thwart scrutiny of the lavish spending by the tax-exempt charity that foots the bill.

"They're trying to not have written records," said Bob Stern, president of the Center for Governmental Studies. "I would call it creative accounting -- creative oral accounting."

[kellynla]

Shortly after announcing his candidacy on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 2003, Schwarzenegger was quoted as saying: "The biggest problem we have is that California is being run by special interests. ... I will go to Sacramento and clean house."

"As you know, I don't need to take any money from anybody. I have plenty of money myself. I will make the decisions for the people,"

[kellynla]

ping

[Republican_Beauty]

“Creative oral accounting” really?? I think one could apply the infamous term “fuzzy math” here as well.

If Arnold can pull this crap, then I say we should all be allowed the same during the next IRS audit we have to do. “Oh yes, that money there, it was orally mentioned to my husband, and there may be a sticky note in a file somewhere, let me take 2 months and see what I can come up with”
LOL

[Oldexpat]

It is easy to see why Arnold was overtaken by the special interests in CA. So much for his promises and promise.
He will leave the state bankrupt and with declining prospects as tax payers and corporations leave. Increased illegal immigration, declining level of education and higher taxes. What a combination. The Golden State is golden no longer.
Some of us will hang on as part time non-residents, but will no longer expose ourselves to the high taxes and declining return.

[Republican_Beauty]

We have family there, near Sacramento..we get into huge debates..most ending with why they still live there. It is such a shame what has happend to the once “Golden State” indeed.