Schwarzenegger rewards official staff with higher pay than predecessor

[Kadie]

AP Exclusive: Schwarzenegger rewards official staff with higher pay than predecessor

MICHAEL R. BLOOD, Associated Press Writer
Tuesday, June 29, 2004


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(06-29) 14:16 PDT LOS ANGELES (AP) --

Even as he calls for shared sacrifice to solve the state's financial crisis, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is spending more than his predecessor on salaries for his official staff, an Associated Press investigation found.

Schwarzenegger has slightly fewer employees than Gov. Gray Davis did toward the end of his term, but is spending nearly 8 percent more on salaries. He also is paying a higher average salary for each employee. And he is paying more six-figure incomes within his inner circle than Davis did.

"For a governor who came to office saying he would cut the government, he seems to have really pumped it up, at least salaries for his inner circle," said Jamie Court, a consumer activist with the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "It doesn't show much respect for taxpayers."

The AP obtained the governor's office payroll records through a California Public Records Act request to the state Controller's Office.


more... http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/06/29/financial1716EDT0284.DTL

[Submariner]

1. Can this raper be voted out of office this November?

Is the CA governor's race on this years ballot?

[question everything]

6. Not until 2006... unless he is recalled - fat chance. Too many

love their machoman

[Tight_rope]

8. Raise today...Laid off tomorrow!,,,,n/t

[bluestateguy]

2. If he wants to pay them more, do it out of his own pocket

Not appropriate when the state is cutting services and raising tuitions. When there is a budget surplus, then you can give out raises.

[Cha]

3. I hope this gets alot of press in California!

Enron is really cutting into California's budget deficet and now THIS?

[section321]

4. Typical Republican.

Talk about fiscal responsibility and them push their way to the front of the chow line....

[bushwakker]

5. He is untouchable

I was reading New Yorker article about his reign in Cali. Everyone interviewed says he can get away with stuff that other pols would get creamed over. He wants to be president and don't think it could never happen. Imagine if the governor of whatever state you're from was hit with serial adultery or unwanted sexual contact charges - he or she would be toast. Not Arnie.

[Tight_rope]

7. Then he will lay their asses off next year!......n/t