[Crossposted at
Bopnews
In 1994 Americans were told by Newt Gingrich that if they were in pain, Congress would be in pain, and that would solve the problem. Gingrich promised to clean up scandals and run a better house. He fell in a scandal a few years later. But the machine he built survived. Instead of growing more powerful nationally, it continued to work on its base - turning out conservative southern Democrats, to be replaced by reactionary carpet bagging Republicans.
But the image of "Republican Reform" clung to them, partially because corruption didn't have a name. But last year the cracks really began to show. The most important crack was coingate - a scandal pushed by local sources and the internet, even as it was dismissed as a few loose coins in the top down media. The scandal has lead to the conviction of Bob Taft - the Republican governor, and a growing political earthquake.
This is the beginning of the scandal that could bring down Schwarzenhagger.
The Los Angeles Times documents how donations from corporate interests are funnelled through non-profits to Gov. Schwarzenhagger.
These include:
- Trade junkets and politcal appearances. Including, the "girlie men" appearance
- A $6000 dollar a month Hyatt hotel suite used by the governor, paid for by the "Governor's Residence Foundation". This has been going on for 9 months.
- An incestuos Syndicate of organizations centered on the "California Recovery Team" - which also includes the group trying to slash workers compensation, and the "Jobs Commission" which pays for many of his appearances.
- As much as three million dollars in fundraising, exempt from disclosure laws.
- End running disclosure laws by hiring these same companies, including 1.1 million to push the governor's ballot initiatives.
The kicker? Schwarzenhagger may well have violated the law:
"Olson said if Schwarzenegger raised more than $5,000 for a nonprofit, he is required to file disclosure forms with the state. A spokeswoman for the Fair Political Practices Commission said Schwarzenegger hasn't filed any such reports."
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With Abramoff's fraud conviction, and Taft's ethics violation conviction, the atmosphere is changing. People are coming to understand that Republifraud costs them.
So what's being done? One not for profit group has waited for the wheels of justice to start spinning, they've filed a lawsuit Which survived an attempt to quash it. Their blog tracks such stories as the potential ouster of an Arizona state representative for violating clean election laws., Republican David Burrell Smith.
So there's the smoke, where's the fire?
How about influence peddling, where the California Chamber of Commerce, which backs the two of the organizations, is on the verge of seeing its hand picked candidate over see slashing Worker's Compensation, and risky reductions in rates, and which, even according to industry sources dramatically incrase complexity.
How about charging rent to one of his own non-profits?. Lining one's own pockets is usually political poison. Especially to the tune of $166,859. This creates impropriety directly, because contributions aren't just going to make him look good, but to make him money. A great deal of it.
Arnoldwatch has been following this for some time, but with the LA Times article - which strangely fails to name some of the few names that are public - the smell is reaching the public.