Bush's buddy Arnold and outsourcing government functions to corporate donors

Schwarzenegger has been making a big media splash with elaborate signing ceremonies for bills supported by Democrats in the legislature that he signed to look like a "moderate" Republican in an election year. The one referenced below featured Tony Blair and other celebrities on a big screen to celebrate Schwarzenegger signing an environmental-friendly bill to limit global-warming emissions. The bill sets targets, but leaves "minor" things like actual standards to later action by legislators and regulators.

But it lets Schwarzenegger pose as a "moderate". In Questions on governor's big show: Amid criticism of two splashy signings for one bill, corporate funds pay some of the cost by Kevin Yamamura and Clea Benson Sacramento Bee 09/29/06, we read:

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is using both corporate and campaign funds to defray the expense of his elaborate bill-signing ceremonies, a gubernatorial spokeswoman said Thursday.

The campaign covers the extraordinary costs of events that are larger or more complicated than usual, spokeswoman Margita Thompson said. Corporate money, funneled through a nonprofit group, also covers some costs, she said.

The outside funding is supposed to relieve the burden on taxpayers, Thompson said. She said a tally of funds spent on bill signings was not yet available.

Good-government advocates and Democrats said Thursday that an influx of cash from various sources to provide good publicity for the governor on his official time right before an election raises a host of questions.

Among them: Why does the governor need to hold two separate signing ceremonies for one bill where he beams in international figures via satellite on giant screens?

Tags: schwarzenegger

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