More Transparency! Schwarzenegger's Million Dollar Plus Travel Costs 'Vague'

Los Angeles :

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office has avoided fully disclosing payments of $1.7 million in nonprofit funds for private jets, hotel suites and support staff for his trips overseas, according to state documents and interviews.

Record-keeping for many of the governor's luxury-class jaunts has been by word of mouth. Asked how the staff tracks the costs, subject to public disclosure laws, Schwarzenegger attorney Daniel Maguire said: "Orally."

Read the whole story: Los Angeles

Comments

[Seamus]

It was only a matter of time - Gray Davis probably told Arnie it would happen to him also.

[HollywoodBill]

California's budget for 1998 is $131,000,000,000. That's $131 billion. Depending on the source, it is anywhere from the 5th to the 9th largest economy in the world. The LATimes is worried about $1.7 million? That's petty cash. The State of CA probably spends more on paper clips.

Arnold takes no salary, which is only about $200,000 a year. So he gets a perk. Big deal. What's he gonna do? Fly coach? Stay at Motel 6? As California's ambassador to foreign countries, he generates interest and business connections of a far greater value. Frankly, no one's gonna care.

[nastywolf]

Arnold's single-handedly transformed the state of CA's taxpayers into private underwriters for New York's bond brokers. If you think the $12B+ deficit CA has now is something, wait till those bond interest payments begin stacking up.

[Ginzaman]

Is this guy the Governor's attorney or his personal attorney?

[TXfemmom]

Arnold really is a Republican, after all.

How could he and his staff actually think that this was legal and ethical?

[studlyguy]

the state of california is financial slid downward and he's out having at no expense to him traveling all over the place ,just following what the fascist have been doing to America ,Arnold is just doing to Californians, it's called f**cking us over

[TitaniumAvatar]

What was that entry about Sarah Conner?

[speakingtruth2power]

Did you see where the Gropinator is coming out against violent video games?
The current GOP = hypocrisy.

[RedWhiteandBlueState]

Go easy on Arnold. He's never known a privileged lifestyle. He's never had the red carpet treatment afforded celebrities. So he wants to splurge a bit on public money. What's the harm?

[peterg76]

Does the travel budget include time travel or is that separate?