Chevron gave big to governor, played key role in reorganization plan

[Kadie]

AP Exclusive: Chevron gave big to governor, played key role in reorganization plan

TOM CHORNEAU, Associated Press Writer
Thursday, September 2, 2004


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(09-02) 12:16 PDT SACRAMENTO (AP) --

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's ambitious plan to reorganize almost every aspect of state government was influenced significantly by the oil and gas giant ChevronTexaco, which managed to shape such key recommendations as the removal of restrictions on oil refineries.

Many corporations and interest groups participated in the governor's reform plan -- known as the California Performance Review -- but state records and interviews with the participants show Chevron enjoyed immense success in influencing the report through its array of lobbyists, attorneys and trade organizations.

And few corporations have spent so much political cash on the governor, either. Since Schwarzenegger's election last October, the San Ramon company has contributed more than $200,000 to his committees and $500,000 to the California Republican Party.

Chevron is one of about 20 companies that paid to send the governor and his staff to this week's Republican National Convention in New York. On Wednesday, Schwarzenegger attended a closed-door meeting in New York with representatives of those companies, including Chevron. And just three weeks after the governor's office released the 2,700-page reorganization report, the company gave $100,000 to a Schwarzenegger-controlled political fund.


http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/a/2004/09/02/state1516EDT0076.DTL

[Tempest]

1. I emailed this to the editor of the conservative Bakersfield Californian

The editor came out in support of this.

I'm sure it won't change her mind, but I challenged her to print the story.

[lapfog_1]

2. The CPR is one of the most secret organizations

in California. Sort of like Wolfie's OSP in the Pentagon.
That they are funded by Big Oil is no surprise. I hope that
after we get chimpy out of the white house, the next step is
to stop the political career of Arnold at one partial term
much like his movie career should have been stopped right after
"Hercules in New York".