Ah-nold Takes Developers' Cash While "Reviewing" State Environment Law

[hatrack]

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"In the last two weeks alone, committees supporting Schwarzenegger's political causes took in a total of $225,000 from three business groups that want to see CEQA changed: the California Building Industry Assn., the California Business Properties Assn., and a political action committee sponsored by the California Chamber of Commerce. All three co-signed a letter to Schwarzenegger on April 28, recommending "modifications" in the environmental law and casting it as a hindrance to economic development and home ownership.

Development interests have long supported the governor's agenda. But as the Schwarzenegger administration is — according to one official — "smack in the middle" of discussions about reworking the environmental law, the giving has raised new questions. Last fall, while considering revisions to workers' compensation laws and energy policy, Schwarzenegger set new limits on himself. He said he would turn away donations from insurers and power companies — industries that stand to gain or lose from his decisions.

"The policy on campaign contributions varies depending on what issues are considered timely by the governor's office," said Martin Wilson, an outside political aide who oversees the governor's fundraising.

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Karen Scarborough, the agency's undersecretary, said in an interview that the administration wants to see "what opportunities are there for us to move in and improve it."

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http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-arnold15may15,1,3363044.story