You may remember discussion in one of the financial crisis threads about Governor Schwarznegger indicating that California needed money to deal with its finances. The state had run a television commercial to encourage visitors to the state (the Governor and his wife were shown in the ad) and there was a question of how much did that campaign cost. I am continue the search on that query.
Then I find two articles in the L.A. Times that reflect poorly upon the Governor: his nanny got a board appointment and he is raising taxes on certain services or activities in the state. This is an example of bad optics or news that make electors marvel at how their elected officials keep the public funds in use.
Schwarzenegger names his children's nanny to state board
The governor appointed Lindsay Ann Schnaidt to the Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind. The Hermosa Beach Democrat will be paid $100 a day when the board meets.
By Michael Rothfeld
3:10 PM PST, November 6, 2008
Reporting from Sacramento -- California has often been tagged as the "nanny state" for passing laws that some people say interfere with citizens' lives. But now it has earned the label for a whole different reason, thanks to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The Republican governor this week appointed a nanny -- his own children's nanny, in fact -- as a part-time state regulator on the Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind. Lindsay Ann Schnaidt, 32, a Democrat from Hermosa Beach who has worked for the Schwarzenegger family for seven years, will be paid $100 a day when the board meets, about eight times a year.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-nanny7-2008nov07,0,3891839.story
Schwarzenegger calls for sales tax hike, cuts in services
By Evan Halper and Jordan Rau
12:17 PM PST, November 6, 2008
Reporting from Sacramento -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled a plan today for a steep sales tax increase, new levies on alcoholic drinks and the oil industry, and deep cuts in services to wipe out a budget shortfall that is expected to swell to more than $24 billion by the middle of 2010.
The linchpin of the plan is the sales tax increase of 1 1/2 cents on the dollar, which could raise $10.8 billion through fiscal 2009-10. Republicans, who blocked a smaller increase proposed by the governor last summer, immediately vowed to resist the latest proposal.
Schwarzenegger also proposed extending the sales tax to appliance and furniture repair, vehicle repair, golf fees, veterinarian services, amusement parks and sporting events. He proposed a 9.9% tax on the extraction of oil from California ground, the expansion of sales tax to some services, and a 5-cent-per-drink tax on alcohol. His plan also includes a $12 increase in annual vehicle registration fees.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-arnold7-2008nov07,0,4137915.story
Obviously there is money in California. The state does rely on tourism as an important economic contributor.
Update: Television spots for this fall and winter will cost $13.2 million. Source: Slide 27 of this CTTC 08-09 Domestic Brand Work Plan.