Arnold's Jet-Set Non-Profit

Everybody knows that big political contributions gets you face time with politicians to be able to lobby them on one issue or another. It is rare to see it so freely and specifically discussed with the LAT. For the first time, Arnold was forced to name the donors funding his lavish trips around the world. He has been funneling them through a 501c3, which provides a tax break for the donors and most of the time they do not need to be disclosed. But Arnold actually went and solicited donations at a dinner, thus they had to be made public.

The LAT talked with the donors.

Barry Cinnamon, founder and chief executive officer of Akeena Solar, said he attended the dinner and gave $5,000 for a variety of reasons, but chiefly because he wanted the opportunity to talk to Schwarzenegger about a renewable energy bill pending in Congress. Also, he said, the fundraiser was not far from his San Francisco home and involved "a nice dinner to go to with my girlfriend."

He said the protocol foundation "sounded like something worthwhile."

"Somebody's got to pay for those trips," said Cinnamon, "and I think what he does in terms of spreading the California message is absolutely terrific."

Cinnamon, whose 6-year-old company designs solar systems for homes and businesses, said he talked to Schwarzenegger for three or four minutes about backing federal legislation that would provide the first significant boost in vehicle fuel-economy rules in decades and require greater generation of renewable energy.

Schwarzenegger, he said, was enthusiastic but made no promises. Cinnamon credited the governor with providing stability to the solar industry by launching rebate programs for solar panel installation.

Big donor gives money and gets to fill politician's ear. Keep in mind that this is always promoted by Arnold as saving the taxpayers money. We may be saving money, but it is buying others influence. I would rather foot the bill than give people even more access to our governor.

And this is just ridiculous.

Under state law, Schwarzenegger, a Republican, must report the donations to the state's Fair Political Practices Commission. Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear said the governor had never personally raised money for the foundation before.

"That's an outside entity to us," McLear said. "They deal with how they want to disclose -- or not disclose -- their donors.

Uuum. Yeah. The governor's spokesman just claimed that the non-profit established to fund the governor's trip is an outside entity that they don't have control over. Right.

If Arnold wanted them to disclose, they would disclose. He doesn't. He wants to shield his contributors to the public.