The Reforminator?
"The people of this state do not trust their government. They feel it is corrupted by dirty money, closed doors, and back room dealings."
That was candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger in one of the most policy-specific speeches he delivered during the 2003 recall campaign. Sensing the anger of California voters over politics as usual, Schwarzenegger promised to change the culture under the Capitol dome in Sacramento.
But has he?
As part of our special coverage of the race for governor, this morning on The California Report we examined Arnold Schwarzenegger's record on the issue of government reform. While efforts have been made on some issues (most notably, redistricting), many of those 2003 promises remain unfulfilled. That list includes a ban on campaign fundraising during the budget season, and rejection of any legislation that has not had a full public hearing.
Schwarzenegger's government reform platform was outlined in a September 2003 speech at the California State Railroad Museum. The locale was chosen to link the candidate with the state's best-known reform governor, the late Hiram Johnson. The event was Schwarzenegger's first appearance before the state's political press corps, and one where he went to great lengths to distance himself from incumbent elected officials.
Consider his comments that day about why campaign fundraising is such a problem during the first few months of every year:
"It doesn't work, if you're supposed to be representing the people, and you're making important budget decisions in those six months, let's say between January and the summer. And while that is going on, you have all those lobbyists in there, trying to offer you money, and having fundraisers for you and all those things.
"Who're you going to represent when that happens? Is it going to be the lobbyists and special interests? Or is it going to be the people? I think that's the reason why the people have a problem. That's why when you ask them, "What is your feeling about government, or about our politicians?,' they so many times have a negative opinion. That's why we have a recall in the first place."
But as governor, Schwarzenegger has raised a total of more than $43.5 million in the last three budget seasons. That's actually 40% more money raised than in the final three budget seasons under recalled Governor Gray Davis.
For more on his record of government reform, listen to this morning's story online here.
