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Politics : Sioux Nation -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Knighty Tin who wrote (20527)	6/7/2005 10:25:18 AM
From: Wharf Rat	Respond to of 361070

Schwarzenegger Donors Rewarded With Access Sun Jun 5, 8:23 PM ET LOS ANGELES - Top contributors to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger have been rewarded with a private telephone number that gives them access to his closest advisers — and even to the governor himself. The Los Angeles Times on Sunday reported that major donors are invited twice a month to participate in conference calls featuring information about the governor's campaign strategy. In turn, donors who dial in can give the governor or his advisers advice. The Times said it was given access to the conference call Thursday by a participant. The newspaper did not identify that person. In the half-hour call, Schwarzenegger media strategist Don Sipple outlined a plan to create a "phenomenon of anger" to turn voters against public employee unions that have been among the governor's harshest critics, the newspaper said. "The process is like peeling an onion," Sipple said in the call, describing a strategy for persuading voters that the unions are "motivated by economic self-interest" instead of "doing the best job for the state." The Thursday discussion, involving multiple contributors and top Schwarzenegger strategists, offered a rare glimpse inside the governor's political circle. Participants in the call included representatives from the American Electronics Association, Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. and Wells Fargo, the Times said. The call also offered a window on the governor's strategy ahead of an expected Nov. 8 special election. Campaign finance experts said there is nothing illegal about conference calls with donors, providing contributors do not push for favors. The governor has repeatedly said he does not trade campaign money for favors. Schwarzenegger fundraiser Marty Wilson said the conference calls allow the campaign to interact with contributors without "going through the filter of any kind of third-party intermediary, whether that be the news media or somebody on their staff." They can get their information directly from a senior official on the campaign, he said. The governor participated in a call with donors two weeks ago and is expected to do so again June 16, the newspaper said. Presumably, that will be after he signs an executive order scheduling the special election in which he will ask voters to approve changes in state government. Contributors to Schwarzenegger's causes are first invited to join the discussions in e-mails, which tell them how to get a phone number and a password for each call. The campaign staff decides which donors will be included. During the latest call, advisers said Schwarzenegger had spent $8 million so far on television ads defending and promoting his agenda, the Times reported. He wants to collect $31 million to $32 million to run his initiative campaign through the fall, the advisers said. A special election ballot is expected to include a proposed government spending cap and a plan to lengthen the time it takes teachers to get tenure _both measures opposed by public employee unions. The unions and their Democratic allies have spent millions on TV ads criticizing the governor and his proposals. news.yahoo.com