Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Brumar89 who wrote (282441)	3/29/2006 7:13:22 PM
From: paret	Respond to of 1575293

Rob Reiner steps down from California preschool commission (Dead Meathead Walking) AP on Bakersfield Californian ^ \| 3/29/06 \| Michael R. Blood - ap Complaining of "personal political attacks," Hollywood director Rob Reiner resigned Wednesday as chairman of a statewide preschool commission he helped create that's under scrutiny for $23 million in advertising spending. Just two weeks ago, Reiner dismissed suggestions that he should step down from the California First 5 Commission, which has collected nearly $4 billion in tobacco taxes to fund early childhood programs. "Everything I've done is completely legal," he said at the time. But Reiner called Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger over the weekend and resigned, said Margita Thompson, a Schwarzenegger spokeswoman. In a letter to the governor Wednesday, Reiner said, "We agreed that we cannot let personal political attacks get in the way of doing the very best we can for California's children." Critics accused the commission of a conflict of interest after its spent $23 million in state money on an ad campaign that coincided with Reiner's promotion of an expanded preschool initiative that's on the ballot this year, known as Proposition 82. The Legislature has asked the state auditor to investigate the commission, and Attorney General Bill Lockyer referred the matter to the Sacramento County district attorney for possible investigation. Reiner was out of town and unavailable for comment, spokesman Mark Fabiani said. Fabiani added that Reiner was concerned that criticism of him could detract from the statewide program and Proposition 82, which would create free universal preschool by raising taxes on the wealthy. "The opposition has not focused on the merits of the initiative," Fabiani said. "They've decided to focus on Rob." In a statement, the Republican governor said Reiner would be replaced by Hector Ramirez, 38, an executive at a nonprofit group for needy children, Para Los Ninos. "Rob Reiner has always put California's kids first and I thank him for the great work he has done over the last seven years," Schwarzenegger said. "Because of Rob's efforts, California has become a national leader in providing early childhood health and education services for our youngest children and their families." Reiner's exit has the potential to relieve the election-bound Schwarzenegger of a distracting political problem at a time when the governor has been trying to improve his diminished public standing and get his re-election campaign under way. Last week Schwarzenegger, who calls Reiner a friend, said he had no plans to replace the director as the commission chairman. Fabiani said Reiner will have no further involvement with the commission. Ramirez is not unknown to Reiner. Ramirez was consulted when Reiner's staff put together Proposition 82. Reiner and Ramirez have met, but "I feel very safe that they don't have a relationship," said Elena Stern, a spokeswoman for Para Los Ninos, which receives some funding from the commission. Asked about the ad campaign, Ramirez said in a conference call with reporters that the he would make sure the commission "upholds the highest level of integrity." Reiner will continue to be involved with the Proposition 82 campaign, aides said. He has donated $657,000 in cash and other services to the campaign.