Corporate sponsorship of Schwarzenegger's glitzy events draws scrutiny

[struggle4progress]

By Michael Rothfeld, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
May 18, 2008

SACRAMENTO -- ...

In a telephone call from his Capitol office, Schwarzenegger secured agreement from General Electric's chairman and chief executive, Jeffrey Immelt, that the Fortune 500 company would co-host and help pay for the Border Governors Conference this August at Universal Studios in Hollywood, which the corporation owns.

The event could cost more than $3 million between GE and other private sponsors, according to participants in the planning of the conference, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the arrangements.

That would make it an expensive example of a technique Schwarzenegger has embraced to bring the glitzy style he appreciates to ceremonial state functions: getting corporations and wealthy supporters to pay for them. The governor's aides say the practice saves taxpayers money.

Government watchdog groups argue that it may compromise the administration's independence from corporate interests. Schwarzenegger's phone call with Immelt was arranged by a GE executive, formerly an advisor to the governor, who oversees the company's lobbyists in Sacramento ...

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-arnold18-2008may18,0,870547.story

[cyclezealot]

1. Arni says its ok to cut the state budget by like 10%

reduce the number of teachers and sell off a significant percentage of the magnificent state park system. / You'd think he'd think it prudent to demonstrate his skin flint message by demonstrating a degree of modesty in his Administration. the Border's event would have been equally meaningful, had it been held in a public convention center. Not arni. He's royalty.