IJ Reilly
Nov 13, 2004, 10:23 AM
Let's play "spot the howlers."
Schwarzenegger says decisions by his aides aren't swayed by special-interest perks.
TOKYO — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said today that he sees no need to tighten his administration's gift policy, nor is he worried that some of his top aides have accepted thousands of dollars worth of meals, basketball playoff tickets and other items from special interests seeking access to his government.
In an interview on the last day of his trade mission here, Schwarzenegger said he was confident that his staff would not give favors in exchange for gifts and thus saw no reason to impose any bans.
Schwarzenegger has repeatedly decried the influence of special interests in Sacramento and promised to restore integrity to government.
...
In discussing his views on gifts, he said he had not considered the issue until he read a Times story Sunday detailing the practice.
"Those are the things that I don't think anyone has to worry about," the governor said. "There's no one selling out in my administration."
Schwarzenegger said he wouldn't do a favor for Disney, for example, merely because he is close to CEO Michael Eisner or because the company has allowed his family free use of its amusement park. Lobbyist disclosure reports filed with the state show that some Schwarzenegger aides got free passes to Disneyland.
The governor said that "Eisner could ask me for a lot of things, and has in the past. But it wouldn't be that I would do something for Disney because he gave someone a ticket.
"I've been going to Disneyland for free for the last 20 years with my family. As a matter of fact, they opened it up especially for us at 7 in the morning so I don't have to do deal with the people. So there are a lot of favors like that. And I do favors back for them."
...
State law allows officials to accept up to $340 in one calendar year from any one special interest. Former Gov. Gray Davis had a written policy making the threshold more restrictive. He directed appointees not to accept gifts from groups lobbying the administration on the grounds that the givers might expect something in return.
Schwarzenegger said he was amused to see in the Times' article the reference to Davis, who was often criticized for his zealous fundraising practices.
"The whole thing is a great comedy," the governor said. "I don't take those things too seriously."
He added: "It's all a character issue. I have never done a favor for anyone. I will never do a favor."
...
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-arnold13nov13,1,5853420.story
Schwarzenegger says decisions by his aides aren't swayed by special-interest perks.
TOKYO — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said today that he sees no need to tighten his administration's gift policy, nor is he worried that some of his top aides have accepted thousands of dollars worth of meals, basketball playoff tickets and other items from special interests seeking access to his government.
In an interview on the last day of his trade mission here, Schwarzenegger said he was confident that his staff would not give favors in exchange for gifts and thus saw no reason to impose any bans.
Schwarzenegger has repeatedly decried the influence of special interests in Sacramento and promised to restore integrity to government.
...
In discussing his views on gifts, he said he had not considered the issue until he read a Times story Sunday detailing the practice.
"Those are the things that I don't think anyone has to worry about," the governor said. "There's no one selling out in my administration."
Schwarzenegger said he wouldn't do a favor for Disney, for example, merely because he is close to CEO Michael Eisner or because the company has allowed his family free use of its amusement park. Lobbyist disclosure reports filed with the state show that some Schwarzenegger aides got free passes to Disneyland.
The governor said that "Eisner could ask me for a lot of things, and has in the past. But it wouldn't be that I would do something for Disney because he gave someone a ticket.
"I've been going to Disneyland for free for the last 20 years with my family. As a matter of fact, they opened it up especially for us at 7 in the morning so I don't have to do deal with the people. So there are a lot of favors like that. And I do favors back for them."
...
State law allows officials to accept up to $340 in one calendar year from any one special interest. Former Gov. Gray Davis had a written policy making the threshold more restrictive. He directed appointees not to accept gifts from groups lobbying the administration on the grounds that the givers might expect something in return.
Schwarzenegger said he was amused to see in the Times' article the reference to Davis, who was often criticized for his zealous fundraising practices.
"The whole thing is a great comedy," the governor said. "I don't take those things too seriously."
He added: "It's all a character issue. I have never done a favor for anyone. I will never do a favor."
...
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-arnold13nov13,1,5853420.story
