Schwarzenegger Accepts $100,000 from Chevron as Californians Get Hit with Record Gasoline Prices: Citizen Petition Calls for Spe

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR) has just unloaded on Governor Schwarzenegger for accepting a $100,000 donation from Chevron Corporation just as gasoline prices were hitting a new all-time record in California. They are calling for the Governor to return both the new donation and the rest of the $665,000 he and his political committees have taken from Chevron. Calls to return campaign contributions are usually like playing a baseball game under protest. Where there has been egregious action it usually makes the point, but it is exceedingly rare that contributions are returned.

The donation, posted on the state’s campaign disclosure web site today, was made May 1, a few days after Chevron reported another first-quarter profit record. Chevron is the West's largest refiner and has been raking in disproportionate profits on California gasoline prices that are 45 cents to 50 cents higher than in the rest of the nation.

The Foundation is not alone. Today, the San Jose Mercury News has an article questioning the Governor's fundraising that is raising the eyebrows of many good government groups.

What galls the FTCR even more is that Schwarzenegger recently offered special private meetings to those who gave $100,000 to his California Recovery Team, which amounts to a political slush fund, said FTCR. This is clearly laid out--in the donation document form which makes the offer of meetings and conference calls with the Governor a quid pro quo for the money contributed.

This, from Schwarzenegger, who is demanding campaign finance reforms be placed on the February 5, 2008 ballot limiting only the timing of contributions but not the amounts. Well, the timing could hardly have been worse than here, regardless of what stage we are in for the Governor of the legislature.