SACRAMENTO - Standing at the California State Railroad Museum, California State Treasurer and Democratic nominee for Governor Phil Angelides today unveiled Restoring the Public Trust: The Angelides Plan for Reform, a comprehensive plan to put government on the side of Californians, not special interests. Angelides’ announcement came on the three year anniversary of Arnold Schwarzenegger taking out papers to run for Governor.
"Three years ago Arnold Schwarzenegger stood here, at the State Railroad Museum and, invoking the name of Hiram Johnson, the reformer who broke the railroad stranglehold on California, promised to bring sweeping political reform to Sacramento," said Angelides. "But even after last year’s $50 million special election debacle, Governor Schwarzenegger continues to break that promise. As Governor, I will clean up state government and make it work for California’s hard-working families."
While Governor Schwarzenegger vowed during his first campaign to not take money from anyone, he has solicited special interest contributions in excess of $100 million--more than any previous governor to date. Despite his pledge of open government, Schwarzenegger has refused to disclose the financial support he’s received--for personal expenses, overseas junkets, promotion, and political activities.
In July, Schwarzenegger was assessed the second largest fine in the history of the Fair Political Practices Commission for failing to make timely disclosure of 146 contributions totaling more than $25 million. Additionally, Schwarzenegger has allowed his top state employees to draw a second paycheck from his special interest-fueled political campaigns, even as they are paid for full-time work at the state.
"We have a Governor that's doing the bidding of powerful corporate interests and turns his back on the forgotten middle class of hard-working Californians," Angelides added. "It is time for California to clean up the influence of money and special interests in our government."
Restoring the Public Trust: The Angelides Plan for Reform would:
Toughen lobbying rules.
Special interest groups deploy more than a thousand lobbyists, some of them located on Sacramento's own K Street just a block from the state Capitol, to influence government action in Sacramento - almost nine lobbyists for each member of the Legislature. In 2004 they spent $213 million on lobbying in Sacramento, an amount equal to the Legislature's entire budget. California’s rules regulating lobbying haven’t kept up with either this massive spending or the new special interest techniques for influencing decision-making. As Governor, Phil Angelides will propose a series of lobbying reforms to clean up Sacramento's K Street including:
- Expanded disclosure of lobbying spending.
- Required disclosure of "Astroturf" lobbying.
- Broadened lobbying registration and disclosure.
Require disclosure of contributions that benefit the Governor.
Arnold Schwarzenegger has taken millions of dollars--for personal lodging, personal promotion, events, expensive foreign junkets-- that he has refused to disclose. This bounty has flowed through at least a half dozen non-profit groups that, under current rules, are not required to report the identity of the contributors. As Governor, Phil Angelides will put in place new rules requiring California’s Governor to disclose at least quarterly the source of all funds donated to pay for such purposes.
Enact tougher penalties for conflicts violations.
California's Political Reform Act bars public officials in California from participating in making or influencing governmental decisions in which they have a financial interest. Unfortunately, the current law includes a giant loophole for the state's constitutional officers, including the Governor: It exempts them from the penalties that apply to other officials who violate these conflict of interest provisions. As Governor, Phil Angelides will seek legislation to apply the same penalties to state officers who violate the conflict-of-interest rules.
Bar outside pay for top officials.
Top officials in Governor Schwarzenegger’s administration, including his chief of staff, are receiving paychecks financed with special interest contributions at the same time they are being paid full-time by the state to serve the public and its interests. Arnold Schwarzenegger set the example himself when he signed an $8 million contract to serve as an editor with a magazine and then delivered a veto of a bill regulating nutritional supplements, which benefited the magazine’s key advertisers. As Governor, Angelides will insist that everyone working in the Governor’s office have only one employer: the people of California.
To read Restoring the Public Trust: The Angelides Plan for Reform visit www.angelides.com.
