It’s no secret that the state’s official political watchdog, the Fair Political Practices Commission, has had budget woes in recent times. Now, the FPPC has found a creative way to solve the problem: the commission has hired a temp.

More precisely, it’s an attorney on loan from the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.

The FPPC has struggled to keep up with its ever increasing workload, especially during the state budget’s lean years (the governor’s proposed 2006-07 budget, by the way, calls for an increase in FPPC funding by a little more than 10%).

Everyone involved says the agreement to loan out an attorney is a win-win. “The FPPC will gain additional assistance in handling its heavy enforcement workload,” said San Diego DA Bonnie Dumanis, “while our deputy will return with hands-on experience with political ethics cases.”

Deputy DA Leon Schorr unpacked his bags in the FPPC’s Sacramento offices last week. His temporary assignment is expected to last between six and eight months.