GOP consultant: Prop. 11 "Custom Made" for Conservatives
GOP vice chair and consultant Jon Fleischman finally lets the Prop 11 hidden agenda cat out of the bag.
Fleishman's "Flashreport" - the right-wing's online Bible - calls Prop. 11 "Custom Made for GOP Gain:"
"By passing Prop. 11, Californians will be making it possible to add more conservatives to the legislature than ever before. That's right, despite all of the rhetoric of misguided Prop. 11 supporters, who somehow believe that this measure will end partisanship in Sacramento - it will not. But what it will do is add more Republicans into the mix, giving us more votes --"
Fleishman even acknowledges that the central tenant of the Yes on 11 campaign - being funded by Schwarzenegger and a host of out-of-state GOP contributors - is a fraud:
"-- more important, Proposition 11 will bring more partisan gridlock, because it will bring more Republicans to Sacramento."
And Fleishman is pleased as punch to see the GOP take advantage of the good-government lipstick Arnold has put on this partisan pig - in the form of help from Common Cause and others.
"As for me, I guess I am A-OK with these groups, in essence, pushing the #1 priority for the Republican Party."
No surprise that Fleishman is weighing in with the conservative base - quite a few prominent Republicans oppose the Governor's confusing and complicated redistricting measure - especially because it fails to turn redistricting of Congressional seats over to Arnold's commission.
But his candor sure leaves Arnold and his coalition with some explaining to do.
www.NoOnProp11.org
Arnold Taps GOP Swamp for Prop. 11 Power Play
The last time Florida played a pivotal role in politics - we all know what happened.
So after shaking the special interest money tree for millions to fund his confusing and unfair redistricting initiative - and getting no traction at all with California voters -- where does Arnold Schwarzenegger turn for help?
That's right. The state where their idea of fair elections was to put Katherine Harris in charge is now Arnold's go-to spot for a last round of Prop. 11. cash.
And Florida's far right givers did not disappoint, coughing up $590,000 in a single day. Here's a quick rundown of Arnold's Florida money grab for "reform:"
$50,000 from Ashbritt Inc. -- execs are also big givers to McCain.
$25,000 from Autonation - CEO is a major Bush donor
$25,000 from Ronald Book - a giver to McCain, Thompson, Huckabee and Bush
$25,000 from Eastern Waste Systems - owner is another giver to Republicans
$5,000 from Ovadia Levy - another McCain donor
$50,000 from Randal Perkins - major donor to McCain and the RNC
$250,000 from Rothstein, Rosenfeldt, Adler - also giving to McCain, Florida GOP
$50,000 from the Geo Group - major donor to Huckabee
Will Florida's far right steal another election? As the latest PPIC results show, so far, Californians aren't buying it. They're about as interested in this confusing, complicated and unfair initiative as they are in four more years of George Bush.
www.NoOnProp11.org
No on 11 Ad Breaks New Ground
Explains Confusing, Unfair Initiative
Citizens for Accountability began airing its first No on Prop 11 television ads Friday, outlining a few simple facts Arnold Schwarzenegger can't face about his latest redistricting scheme - it's too confusing, too complicated and totally unfair.
The ad, now airing in California's major markets, dares to mention what the Yes on 11 campaign won't - the actual subject of the initiative, what it does, and how it's supposed to work.
The spot was taped in front of a chart that outlines the baffling political process Prop. 11 would use to select members of the redistricting commission - the 14 people who would decide things for the entire state.
It points out that Prop. 11 fails to assure that the commission is in any way representative of the state - and that most communities would have no representation at all when districts are drawn.
"All 14 could come from anywhere - LA, or San Francisco, or Lone Pine. Guess they never heard of `no taxation without representation.' "
The complete script appears below. Click here to view the ad.
"Random" - No on Prop. 11
"Prop Eleven. Bureaucrats choose sixty candidates for a fourteen member Redistricting Commission. Legislative leaders have their veto. Then eight of the fourteen are selected by a random draw and those eight get to pick the other six."
"All fourteen could come from anywhere LA or San Francisco or Lone Pine."
"Guess they never heard of no taxation without representation."
"No on Prop 11 -- too confusing, too complicated, and totally unfair."
www.NoOnProp11.org
Rich Texans Oppose "Reform" -- Except in California
One last laugh out of the Schwarzenegger Texas fundraising debacle for Prop. 11: the folks in Bush Country want nothing to do with "reforming" redistricting in places where the GOP is in charge.
Places like - oh, Texas.
That's right. Those reform-minded Texans -- who were ready to pony up $1,000 a head at the Four Seasons in Austin in the name of ramming Prop. 11 down the throats of California voters -- have no interest in "reforming" redistricting in the Lone Star state.
Today's Dallas Morning News notes that Texas right-winger Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst was pleased as punch to help Arnold foist his confusing and unfair scheme off on us, but doesn't support doing the same thing in his home state.
According to the News, Dewhurst believes the redistricting process there --where the GOP is in charge -- is working just fine, thanks.
Arnold had the Gulfstream all ready to fly off to the land of George Bush and Tom Delay to hustle some more dough to add to the millions he's pumping into this losing campaign.
He pulled the plug after word of the Texas Reformfest raised eyebrows here at home.
www.NoOnProp11.org
Governor Stands Up Oil Barons for Reform
Late word out of camp Arnold is the Governor is pulling the plug on his Texas fundraising fly-in for Prop. 11, his confusing and unfair redistricting scheme.
Funny, as soon as we let folks know about Schwarzenegger's plans to raise $1,000 a head tomorrow with right-wing Texas Lt. Gov David Dewhurst, seems the Terminator had an abrupt change of plans.
No one is saying whether the event itself is a bust.
But what are the odds California's fundraiser-in-chief will be sending back those Bush country checks for the "let's trick the voters" Prop. 11 campaign?
We're guessing slim and none.
www.NoOnProp11.org
Arnold Heads Back to Texas For More Prop. 11 Cash
The budget is a mess, fires are raging. What's a leader to do?
If you're Arnold Schwarzenegger, the answer is to head to Texas for a $1,000-a-plate fundraiser with right-wing Republican Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst.
And why is our termed-out Governor headed to the land of George Bush and Tom Delay? To keep his misleading ads about his Prop. 11 redistricting scheme on the air.
With Texas's sorry record as home to the most partisan mid-decade gerrymander in the nation's history, it's about the last place you'd think to go looking for support for reform.
But then, Prop. 11 isn't about reform. It's a confusing and complicated scheme that changes the rules just to help one set of politicians at the expense of everyone else.
Apparently there's a big market for that in Texas.
Any chance of making that charter flight one way?
www.NoOnProp11.org
Prop. 11 Ad Flunks the Laugh Test
It's got to be the laugher of the day - take an initiative funded by the most powerful politician in the state and the special interests who support him - and then try to convince voters to support it because "the politicians" are on the other side.
Backers of the Governor's latest redistricting scheme have figured out that voters would never support their convoluted, confusing and unfair initiative on the merits - so they're playing hide the ball.
They're trying to hide Prop. 11's bizarre and complicated process for choosing the redistricting commission.
They're trying to hide the fact that Prop. 11 lets just 14 people make decisions for the entire state, and unfairly leaves most communities with no representation at all when lines are drawn.
They're trying to hide the fact that Schwarzenegger and his political allies are providing the millions of dollars to pay for these misleading ads. The proof is as close as their own website, which lists dozens of politicians supporting Prop. 11, including:
Recalled Former Governor Gray Davis
Former Senate Republican Leader Jim Brulte
Former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg
Santa Cruz County Tax Collector Fred Keeley
Former Controller and candidate for Governor Steve Westly
Their problem: voters are too smart to fall for their half-baked initiative or the deceptive campaign to pass it.
www.NoOnProp11.org
Prop. 11 The Arizona Mirage
California isn’t the first state where politicians have sold their confusing and complicated redistricting scheme. The same folks promising that Prop. 11 will work wonders here made the same phony promises to voters in Arizona in 2000.
Eight years later, what do they have to show for it? Eight years of legal bills – that took emergency legislation to pay. Years of confusion over which maps to use. And districts tossed out for civil rights violations – then challenged again because they protected incumbent politicians.
Now, people with first-hand knowledge of Prop. 11-style “reform” in Arizona are speaking out:
“Prop. 11 is deeply flawed, because it doesn’t require competitive districts. Serving on Arizona’s redistricting commission opened my eyes to the fact that you don’t have to be a politician to have an agenda when districts are drawn – and the competitiveness critical to holding politicians accountable gets swept aside,” said Andi Minkoff, Vice Chair of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Committee. “I’m afraid that if Prop. 11 passes, voters won’t have anything to show for it but broken promises.”
“California voters should take a lesson from Arizona, and take a pass on Prop. 11,” said Pima County Supervisor Ramon Valadez, organizer of Arizona Minority Coalition for Fair Redistricting. “Real reform would make sure every community has a seat at the table when districts are drawn. Prop. 11 just doesn’t measure up.”
The headlines tell the story:
Redistrict Process Was Still Political
-- Arizona Republic, October 15, 2001
Districting Maps Slow in Coming, Face Lawsuit
-- Arizona Republic, December 14, 2001
Consultants Admit Flaws Affected Redistrict Maps
-- Arizona Republic, May 6, 2002
Redistricting Commission Gets $1.7 Million
to Defend Itself
-- Arizona Daily News, November 4, 2003
Arizona Map Ruled Unconstitutional
-- Associated Press, January 16, 2004
Here’s a timeline of the eight-year mess Prop. 11 style “reform” created in Arizona:
November 2000 – Voters Misled
Arizona voters approve Proposition 106 creating an independent commission for redistricting – backed by Common Cause and paid for by $600,000 in contributions from the chair of the Arizona State Democratic Party. Campaign promises to create more competitive legislative and congressional races and elect more moderate politicians to office. (2000-1 -- Arizona Republic)
February 2001 – No Diversity on Commission
Independent Redistricting Commission created by Prop. 106 is named – neither Native Americans nor Latinos (who make up 30 percent of the state’s population) have any representation on the commission. (Roll Call, 2001)
April 2001 – “Reformers” Cash In
Redistricting Commission OKs $1.1 million consulting contract to National Demographics Corp. Company officers have been key advocates of Prop. 11 in California, particularly VP Doug Johnson, a fellow at the Rose Institute, which was founded by former California Republican Party Director and GOP redistricting expert Alan Heslop.
October 2001 – “Reform” Promises Broken
Commission approves new Congressional and Legislative maps, but creates fewer competitive seats – which had been the primary selling point of the Prop. 106 campaign. Only one of eight Congressional seats drawn by the commission is competitive, and only four of 30 legislative seats – less than the 1990 districts drawn by politicians themselves. Commission Vice Chair Andi Minkoff tells the Arizona Republic: “… we let people down who voted for this proposition.” (Arizona Republic, 2001)
April 2002 – Garbage In, Garbage Out
Attorneys for the Commission are forced to concede the panel based its decisions on inaccurate data that overstated the number of registered voters by 13 percent. Consultants blame cost-cutting efforts by National Demographics Corp. for the error. (Arizona Republic, 2002)
May 2002 – Justice Department Finds Maps Violated Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Justice rejects the Commission’s legislative redistricting plan, saying it dilutes minority voting strength - possibly intentionally. Justice officials contend five of 30 districts suffered a net reduction in the number of Hispanics of voting age and the Commission was unable to show that its plan complies with voting rights protections. (Arizona Daily Star, 2002)
May 2002 – Three Federal Judges Decide Which Maps to Use
After reviewing Department of Justice findings against the Commission’s first set of maps, a three-judge panel orders the Commission to devise new maps that comply with the Voting Rights Act. (Arizona Daily Star, 2002)
Feb. 2003 – Revised Maps Violate State Constitution
State court trial begins over whether the Commission violated the Arizona Constitution by not creating enough competitive districts or not doing enough to protect minorities and other communities of interest. (Arizona Republic, 2003)
October 2003 – Commission Can’t Pay Mounting Legal Bills
Commission chairman Steve Lynn says the panel cannot continue to pay its lawyers to defend itself against legal challenges and indicates the Commission will seek additional funding from the State Legislature. (Arizona Republic, 2003)
November 2003 – $1.7 Million in Taxpayer Funds for Attorneys
Arizona State Senate approves providing an additional $1.7 million to the Independent Redistricting Commission for legal expenses. (Arizona Daily Sun, 2003)
January 2004 – Court Rules Against Commission Maps
State Court Judge rules the Commission violated the state constitution by failing to give enough consideration to competitive districts.
April 2008 – The Arizona Nightmare Ends, for Now
After four additional years of legal wrangling, a state appeals court allows the Commission’s non-competitive plan to stand.(Arizona Republic, 2008)
November 2008 – Vote No on Prop. 11
California voters decide whether to follow the Arizona mirage and create a redistricting process that’s confusing, complicated and reeks of politics – all to mask a hidden agenda. Prop. 11 won’t fairly represent every part of the state – and leaves most communities with no representation at all. It’s all a political shell game to fool people into thinking they’ll have power – when it’s really just a slicker way to get things done.
La Opinión: No on Prop. 11
Finding that Prop. 11 "lacks the safeguards to guarantee that Latinos are duly represented in state government," La Opinión -- the nation's largest Spanish-language newspaper -- is urging readers to vote against the Governor's confusing and unfair redistricting scheme.
Here's the paper's editorial:
No on Proposition 11
"Proposition 11 proposes to establish a new way of drawing electoral district boundaries to better reflect the state's demographic changes. Yet, it lacks the safeguards to guarantee that Latinos are duly represented in state government. For this reason, we recommend voting: No on Proposition 11!
The initiative has good intentions in wanting to change how electoral districts are redrawn after each national census. Today, however, the process is controlled by legislators from both parties whose main goal is protecting their political self-interest in drawing districts that ensure their reelection, rather than faithfully reflecting demographic changes. This dynamic is one of several root causes of the stalemates in Sacramento, such as we recently experienced with the approval of the state budget.
Real reform to resolve the stalemate problem must combine changes in campaign financing and legislative term limits, along with a redistribution of districts that represents California's diversity as much on the commission that carries out the plan as well as in the final outcome.
Proposition 11 does not guarantee diversity nor does it depoliticize the process, as proponents contend. The initiative reflects justified frustration with the current system in Sacramento. While the measure hopes to improve upon current practice, it fails to provide enough safeguards.
The problem is that the initiative could have a negative impact on fair political representation for Latinos. This is reason enough to reject Proposition 11.
www.NoOnProp11.org
Paul Hefner
Citizens for Accountability
(916) 443-5900
How Many Voters Can They Fool?
Politicians and corporate billionaires for Prop. 11 took to the airwaves today with the start of a $4 million advertising blitz meant to deceive voters about their confusing and unfair redistricting scheme.
No mention of the Governor and the millions poured into this flawed initiative by developers, investment tycoons and oil companies -- only phony promises that Prop. 11 can't possibly deliver, all to fool voters into embracing their hidden agenda.
Seems like they'll do anything to avoid talking about their actual initiative -- the confusing process it creates, the way most California communities will have no say when districts or drawn, or their hidden agenda to help politicians like themselves.
Their biggest fear: that voters might actually read Prop. 11.
www.NoOnProp11.org
Working Californians Unite
Against Prop. 11
Working Californians are speaking with one voice on Prop. 11 - and they're saying one word: "NO."
"No" to the Governor's scheme to put enormous political power in the hands of one person -- a person appointed by the Governor.
"No" to a convoluted 12-step process to establish an unaccountable redistricting commission that never answers to voters.
"No" to letting just 14 people make decisions for the entire state - with no guarantee they'll be representative of California's diversity.
And "NO" to the hidden agenda of Prop. 11 - funded by developers, oil companies and corporate tycoons - people who already have too much power in the political process, and who are counting on Prop. 11 to give them even more.
Labor organizations opposed to Prop. 11 include:
California Federation of Teachers*
California State Firefighters Association
California Correctional Peace Officers Association
State Building and Construction Trades Council of California
California Labor Federation
United Teachers of Los Angeles*
Los Angeles County Federation of Labor
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO
Teamsters Joint Council 42
San Diego - Imperial Counties Labor Council
San Mateo County Labor Council
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 11
Los Angeles County Hispanic Managers Association
Los Angeles Chicano Employees Association
Mexican American Correctional Association
Stanislaus-Tuolumne Central labor Council
Butte-Glen Counties Labor Council
National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter
Monterey Bay Central Labor Council
Napa-Solano Central labor Council
Los Angeles City Employees Chicano Association
*previously announced
www.NoOnProp11.org
Prop. 11 -- The Hidden Agenda
Prop. 11 is just another scheme by politicians who want to give themselves more power by putting bureaucrats they appoint in charge of redistricting. It's not about reform, it's about changing the rules to lock in their power - and lock out their opponents.
Follow the money. The millions spent to put Prop. 11 on the ballot and fund its deceptive campaign is coming from interests who already have too much power: politicians, PACs, corporate billionaires and oil companies.
Arnold Schwarzenegger - The Governor has directly contributed more than $2.4 million from his campaign accounts to Prop. 11. He also held a $25,000 a plate fundraiser for the measure directly across the street from the Capitol.
T. Boone Pickens - oil magnate, CEO of BP Capital, and funder of the Swift Boat attacks on John Kerry - has tossed in $100,000.
Rick Caruso - the LA Business Journal's "Developer of the Year," - contributed $100,000.
Robert Day - Chairman of the money management firm Trust Company of the West, a big giver to both the California GOP and the LA County Republican Party - has contributed $100,000.
Charles Schwab - Founder of the nationwide discount brokerage firm whose California GOP contributions for the year total $350,000 -- has kicked in $100,000.
Prop. 11 a top priority for "New Majority California PAC." One of the largest partisan political action committees in the state, they spent $237,500 to help put Prop. 11 on the ballot. The PAC has spent more than $8 million on partisan political races and initiative campaigns in California, and even paid $10,000 to Karl Rove.
Oil Companies help fund Yes on 11. The California Business Roundtable - funded in part by Chevron and Occidental Petroleum - are major funders of the Yes on 11 campaign. Sound like reform to you?
What's in it for them? Plenty. Changing the rules when districts are drawn will give them even more power - without elections, and without accountability.
No wonder this is the sixth time in the last 30 years these same powerful forces have tried to change the rules to help themselves. And no wonder that voters have always said "no."
www.NoOnProp11.org
LA Teachers Reject Prop. 11
United Teachers Los Angeles - representing 48,000 public school teachers and employees - is joining dozens of community and civil rights organizations in opposing Prop. 11 - the Governor's confusing and unfair redistricting scheme.
UTLA's opposition adds to the growing list of opponents to the initiative, which would let a commission of just 14 people draw districts for the entire state - leaving most of California's 58 counties with no representation when decisions are made.
Prop. 11 is also opposed by dozens of other organizations, including the California Federation of Teachers, the California State Firefighters Association, the California League of Conservation Voters, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California and the California Labor Federation.
www.NoOnProp11.org
Paul Hefner
Citizens for Accountability
(916) 443-5900
Arnold's Redistricting Power Grab Dies at the Box Office -- Again
The latest PPIC poll results show Prop. 11 - Schwarzenegger's warmed over political power play on redistricting - is still playing to an empty house.
The reviews are in - and they're all bad. Far less than half of voters in every major group - Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Men, Women, Whites and Latinos - are voting yes.
Arnold's Prop. 11 dud is really bombing with independent voters - with 43 percent now opposed. Think they've figured out that Prop. 11 unfairly gives them less clout than voters from the major parties?
What happens when voters get a look at the confusing process Prop. 11 puts into our Constitution? What happens when they find out that most communities will have no seat at the table when redistricting decisions are made?
What happens when Democratic voters tune in, and find out that environmentalists, teachers, firefighters and civil rights organizations all oppose Prop. 11?
What happens when Californians figure out that Prop. 11 pours even more sand in the gears of government - by imposing the same two-thirds vote requirement for redistricting that brought us years of gridlock on the state budget?
We all know the answer, because we've seen this act before. It's not so fantastic. In fact, it's starting to get old.
www.NoOnProp11.org
Paul Hefner
Citizens for Accountability
(916) 443-5900
Does This Look Like the End of Gridlock to You?
Here, in all its gory, mind-numbing detail is the Governor's political bridge to nowhere - Prop. 11.
Something tells us the Governor's big event today won't explain how his Prop. 11 redistricting scheme creates this multi-level process - all overseen by an official he appoints.
We're also betting he won't mention that Prop. 11 puts the same 2/3rd's vote requirement on redistricting that has worked such wonders for the budget process.
He won't acknowledge that respected independent policy analysts don't believe Prop. 11 will reduce partisanship in the Legislature.
And he sure won't mention that the politicians who have the most to gain under Prop. 11 are the very same politicians who held up the state budget - and who support across the board cuts to schools and health services.
Prescribing Prop. 11 as a cure for political gridlock is more than just opportunistic grandstanding by a failing Governor. It's political malpractice, and voters won't let him get away with it.
www.NoOnProp11.org "PPIC's report simply tells the truth: contrary to claims by the the legion of special interests backing Prop. 11 - redistricting "reform" offers no solution to partisan gridlock. Voters should reject this political shell game masquerading as reform." www.noonprop11.org September 8, 2008 (916) 443-5900 Where’s
But the new entity, “Yes on 11 – Hold Politicians Accountable,” formed August 1, makes no mention of Schwarzenegger’s role. Instead, it lists as major supporters William Bloomfield and Elliott Broidy. The shadow committee masks Schwarzenegger’s key role to the public, but is readily apparent to special interests making campaign donations. Documents show that both committees have directed donations through Schwarzenegger’s longtime campaign finance director, Renee Croce. Documents linking Schwarzenegger’s fundraiser to the new shadow committee are available at www.noonprop11.org.
Paul Hefner
Citizens for Accountability
(916) 443-5900
Phony Reform Fails A Reality Check
Here's what opponents of Prop. 11 have to say about the latest PPIC report, which finally puts to rest the phony "reform" claims of this confusing and unfair initiative:
"California's most respected non-partisan think tank has stripped away the reform façade propping up Prop. 11 - the latest redistricting scheme. Voters can now see Prop. 11 for what it really is, a confusing and complicated power grab - a way to change the rules and give most voters no voice when districts are drawn."
-- Martin Hittelman, President, California Federation of Teachers
"Today's PPIC report proves what opponents of Prop. 11 have been saying all along: Prop. 11 isn't reform, it's just a confusing scheme that won't give most of California's 58 counties any say over how districts are drawn. Prop. 11 is nothing more than a smokescreen, covering up a hidden political agenda. This new study is a long-overdue breath of fresh air."
-- Senator Art Torres, Chairman, California Democratic Party
-- Robert Balgenorth, President, State Building & Construction Trades Council of California
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Paul Hefner
Governor Bankrolls Prop. 11 Redistricting Scheme – Then Disappears Behind Shadow Committee
While Arnold Schwarzenegger continues to solicit contributions from oil companies, developers and partisan PACs to back his Prop. 11 redistricting scheme, the Governator himself was strangely absent from a press event for the initiative held just steps from his Capitol office.
Schwarzenegger’s absence comes on the heels of reports that Prop. 11 proponents have created a new shadow political committee designed to keep voters in the dark about the Governor’s central role in the initiative campaign.
Campaign statements show that after the Governor spent more than $2.4 million from his political accounts to put Prop. 11 on the ballot -- backers have now created a new political entity that omits the Governor’s name from its legal disclaimer.
“This is all part of their political shell game – and it shows the hidden agenda behind Prop. 11,” said Senator Art Torres, Chairman of the California Democratic Party. “They’ve created this shadow committee to try to give their failing campaign a new political identity. But behind the scenes, it’s the same politicians trying to get more power for themselves.”
The move to create a new committee allows proponents to sidestep campaign disclosure laws which require the names of major contributors to be included in committee names and disclaimers that appear on television and radio ads, as well as other campaign materials.
Because Schwarzenegger contributed $2.4 million from his political accounts to back the original “Voters First” committee opened last year, that group was obligated to disclose Schwarzenegger’s involvement.
"Reformers" Use Trick to Hide Agenda
New Shadow Committee Masks Schwarzenegger's Prop. 11 Role
Paul Hefner, Citizens for Accountability (916) 443-5900
Proponents of Arnold Schwarzenegger's Prop. 11 redistricting scheme have created a new shadow political committee designed to keep voters in the dark about the Governor's central role in the initiative campaign.
More than a year after the initial campaign committee was created - and after the Governor spent more than $2.4 million from his political accounts to put Prop. 11 on the ballot -- backers have now created a new political entity that omits the Governor's name from the committee and from its legal disclaimer.
"This is all part of their political shell game - and it shows the hidden agenda behind Prop. 11," said Senator Art Torres, Chairman of the California Democratic Party. "They've created this shadow committee to try to give their failing campaign a new political identity. But behind the scenes, it's the same politicians trying to get more power for themselves."
The move to create a new committee allows proponents to sidestep campaign disclosure laws which require the names of major contributors to be included in committee names and disclaimers that appear on television and radio ads, as well as other campaign materials.
Because Schwarzenegger contributed $2.4 million from his political accounts to back the "Voters First" committee opened last year, that group was obligated to disclose Schwarzenegger's involvement.
Recent campaign filings list that committee as "California Voters First - Yes on 11 for Change in Sacramento -- Major funding provided by Governor Schwarzenegger's CA Dream Team Committee."
But the new entity, "Yes on 11 - Hold Politicians Accountable," formed August 1, makes no mention of Schwarzenegger's role. Instead, it lists as major supporters William Bloomfield and Elliott Broidy.
The shadow committee masks Schwarzenegger's key role to the public, but is readily apparent to special interests making campaign donations.
Documents show that both committees have directed donations through Schwarzenegger's longtime campaign finance director, Renee Croce.
Croce has received $50,000 in consulting fees from the original Voter's First committee. And the new committee's website directs donations to Croce's office in El Segundo and lists Croce's email as renee@joinarnold.com
Here are the documents linking Schwarzenegger's fundraiser to the new shadow committee.
Paul Hefner
But Wait, There’s MORE!
August 28, 2008 @ 11:33 AM
_________________________________________
Schwarzenegger and Co.’s flagging campaign for the Prop. 11 redistricting scheme is starting to sound like a late-night infomercial. One minute, it’s "voter’s first." Next, it’s "political reform." And now, a little hocus pocus and PRESTO! It’s "budget reform!"
The new sales pitch claims that lawmakers in closely contested seats would be noble moderates. (Prop. 11 doesn’t actually require competitive districts, but don’t let the facts get in the way). Prop. 11 would magically make Arnold’s pesky $15 billion budget problem disappear. Suddenly it’s not JUST a confusing and complicated scheme masking a hidden agenda -- it cleans up policy messes too!
Too bad it doesn’t work in the real world. Capitol Weekly’s latest scorecard provides the proof. On the Weekly’s scale -- where zero is "caveman" and 100 is Thomas Jefferson: