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2008
Gerrymandering The Vote: How A “Dirty
Dozen” States Suppress As Many As 9 Million Voters
Democratic Leadership Council
June 2008
Editorial: Perata's Power Play
San Francisco Chronicle
June 30, 2008
Democrats Fear Redistricting Measure Would
Curb Their Power In State
San Francisco Chronicle
June 27, 2008
Election-Map Initiative Helps Voters, State
Progress
Sacramento Bee
June 27, 2008
Politics And California Redistricting
CaliforniaProgressReport.com
June 27, 2008
Millions On Line In Ballot Drives
Sacramento Bee
June 24, 2008
Democratic Leaders Accused Of Pressuring
Supporters Of Redistricting Measure
Contra Costa Times Sacramento Bureau
June 21, 2008
California Is Branded Among A 'Dirty
Dozen' On Gerrymandering
Los Angeles Times
June 19, 2008
Redistricting In California: Control or
Democracy?
CaliorniaProgressReport.com
June 19, 2008
Changing Method Of Redistricting Makes
Ballot
San Francisco Chronicle
June 18, 2008
Government Reformer Down On Redistricting
Initiative
PolitickerCA.com
June 18, 2008
Redistricting Initiative Makes California
Ballot
San Jose Mercury News
June 17, 2008
Democratic Party Takes Stands On Ballot
Measures
CaliforninaMajorityReport.com
June 17, 2008
Cavala: Republicans Kill Reform Bill That
Hurts GOP Chances While Democrats Support 'Reform' That Hurts Their Chances
CaliforniaProgressReport.com
June 9, 2008
Speaking With The New Speaker
Los Angeles Times
June 2, 2008
Two Plans Created To Reform Districts
Modesto Bee
May 19, 2008
New Speaker Should Focus On Public
Interest
Los Angeles Daily News
May 13, 2008
Why Schwarzenegger's Redistricting Plan
Won't Work
California Majority Report.com
May 13, 2008
Tony Quinn: Redistricting Reform OK, But
It's Only A Start
Sacramento Bee
May 11, 2008
Governor May Face Donor Fatigue
Contra Costa Times
May 11, 2008
California Redistricting Plan Faces Hurdles
Capitol Weekly
May 7, 2008
Dan Walters: Competing Proposals For Remap
Sacramento Bee
May 7, 2008
Initiative On Redistricting Closer To
Ballot
San Francisco Chronicle
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Nunez Pushes Ethics Plan As Rival Petitions
Are Filed
Sacramento Bee
May 7, 2008
To Get Leadership Reform, We First Need
Redistricting
Los Angeles Daily News
May 1, 2008
Good Intentions Could Harm Redistricting
Ballot Measure
Los Angeles Times
April 28, 2008
Redistricting On Track To Qualify,
Consultant Says
New America Foundation.com
April 23, 2008
Why Are GOP Contributors Putting Big Money
Into Redistricting Reform?
California Progress Report.com
April 19, 2008
Gov's
Giving To Remap Measure Tops $1 million
Sacramento Bee Capital Alert
April 21, 2008
‘Due
Process’ Democrats Have Their Heads Buried in the California Sand
California Progress Report.com
April 20, 2008
Opinion: Seeing The Light
Los Angeles Daily News
April 19, 2008
California
Voters FIRST Presents A Balanced And Bipartisan Effort For Redistricting
Reform
California Progress Report.com
April 17, 2008
Schwarzenegger's
Redistricting Plan Comes Under Fire
Contra Costa Times
April 17, 2008
Group Says Plan Will Put A Stop To
Gerrymandering
The Simi Valley Acron
April 4, 2008
The Need For Redistricting Reform From
This California Democrat’s Perspective
California Progress Report.com
April 4, 2008
Labor Says No To
Schwarzenegger/Republican/Common Cause Redistricting Measure
The California Majority Report.com
April 02, 2008
Revenge In Attack On Legislative
Redistricting?
California Progress Report.com
March 31, 2008
Weintraub: Governor Gets Another Shot At
Redistricting Reform
Sacramento Bee
March 30, 2008
Editorial: Can't Legislature Do Better Than
Bills On Dogs, Donkeys?
The Fresno Bee
March 30, 2008
Walters: Voters Irate At Budget Posturing
Sacramento Bee
March 28, 2008
New Foundation To Campaign For More Efficient
California Government
Sacramento Bee
March 27, 2008
Editorial: California Voters Should Support
Redistricting Ballot Measure
Fresno Bee
March 24, 2008
Editorial: Redraw the Map
Los Angeles Daily News
March 22, 2008
Walters: Court Ruling Offers Hope to
Dysfunctional California Politics
Sacramento Bee
March 19, 2008
Supreme Court to Hear Major Redistricting
Case
The Thicket at State Legislatures (ncsl.com)
March 18, 2008
Editorial: Let Citizens Redraw the Map
The Torrance Daily Breeze
March 17, 2008
Walters: Redistrict Reformers Miss Mark
Sacramento Bee
March 10, 2008
Let Citizens
Redraw Map
San Gabriel Valley Tribune
March 9, 2008
Governor Proposes Redistricting Ballot
Measure
North County Times
March 8, 2008
Redistricting Initiative Has Strong
Republican Backing
San Jose Mercury News
March 6, 2008
Governor Gathers Signatures to Qualify
Redistricting Measure
San Jose Mercury News
March 4, 2008
Manipulative Lawmakers Playing To The Crowd
Fresno Bee
February 14, 2008
State Voters Need To Do What Lawmakers
Won't
Los Angeles Daily News
February 14, 2008
Editorial: What We Need In Sacramento,
Redistricting, Not Retaliation
San Jose Mercury News
February 14, 2008
Redistricting Reform, Not Longer Terms, Is
The Answer
California Republic.org
February 12, 2008
The Buzz: A Hardball Tactic Could Ricochet
Sacramento Bee
February 11, 2008
Wake Up, Sacramento Media! Wake Up! Wake
Up! Wake Up!
San Diego Union Tribune
February 8, 2008
Editorial: Passive Aggressive Lawmakers
Just Play to the Crowd
Fresno Bee
February 8, 2008
Nunez Takes Blame For Prop. 93 Loss
Los Angeles Daily News
February 7, 2008
Weingand: Voters Got A Whiff and Said 'No'
Sacramento Bee
February 7, 2008
Lawmakers Believe In Term Limits But
Oppose The Measure
North County Times
February 4, 2008
Good For Us
Los Angeles Times
February 4, 2008
Commentary: A Conversation with Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger
Sacramento Bee
January 20, 2008
Walters: Two Party Structure Under Fire
Sacramento Bee
January 18, 2008
Walters: Governor's Brownian Flip-Flops
Sacramento Bee
January 16, 2008
Editorial: Corruption of a Good Idea
San Francisco Chronicle
January 15, 2008
Governor Supports Term Limit Measure
Sacramento Bee
January 15, 2008
A Deceptive Prop. 93
San Francisco Chronicle
January 10, 2008
Use Prop. 93 To Say 'No"
dailybreeze.com
January 3, 2008
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Governor May Face Donor Fatigue
By Steven Harmon, Sacramento Bureau
Contra Costa Times
May 11, 2008
SACRAMENTO — Kicking his fundraising machine into high gear this
spring, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has tapped donors for just enough
cash to position his redistricting initiative for the November
ballot.
He has raised $5.5 million through the first four months of the
year, largely on the backs of 17 six-figure donors — those who
have given $100,000 or more — including New York Mayor Michael
Bloomberg, who gave $250,000 to the Schwarzenegger-led California
Voters First ballot measure.
But does Schwarzenegger still have the Midas Touch? Or, after
raising more than $120 million since entering office in late 2003,
is the governor up against donor fatigue as he heads into lame-duck
status?
The real test will be when he tries to hit up his supporters for
more to fund a ballot initiative that will, in all likelihood, face
opposition throughout the fall from the state Democratic party and
its heavy-hitting allies.
Some observers wonder if Schwarzenegger can pull it off. After
failing to consummate health care reform, he has been plagued by
budget problems, an inability to push his legislative agenda, and
falling approval ratings. Donors might be reluctant to board a ship
they see as faltering.
"In the spring and summer of 2005, when they were gearing up
for the special election, there seemed to be unlimited possibilities
for this governor," said Dan Schnur, a Republican political
consultant. "Now, he's into the
last couple years of his last term, and it might be harder to rev
up a campaign from a donor base that's already looking to the next
election."
In 2005, Schwarzenegger raised more than $50 million for a
special election containing four ballot measures designed to revamp
state government. There were 64 six-figure donors who aided the
cause, including 23 who gave more than $200,000, nine more than
$500,000 and four more than $ 1 million — not including the nearly
$8 million Schwarzenegger poured into the campaign from his fortune.
After a humiliating defeat — all four went down at the polls
— critics said Schwarzenegger had overreached with a nakedly
partisan push. He rehabilitated his image by his 2006 re-election
with a more Democratic-friendly agenda, such as improving the
state's infrastructure and landmark carbon emissions legislation.
But donors could be hesitant to return to another measure that has
been criticized by some as a Republican power grab, the same
language that scared off voters in 2005.
His poll numbers aren't helping. In a recent Public Policy
Institute of California survey, only 41 percent of the public
approved of his performance — down from 57 percent four months
ago.
"The height of his power has already been eclipsed,"
said a Republican political strategist who asked not to be
identified. "For donors, it makes it less compelling. When
you've had your last election and you're on the backside of your
second term, and are having difficulties delivering on your policy
objectives, it means it will be tougher to raise money."
When Schwarzenegger was at his "zenith," the strategist
continued, "people wanted to be a part of it. Donors liked what
he was hoping to do as the leader of a revolution. Now, they
perceive there's less value to supporting him ... and the psychology
is, 'I don't need to be a part of this.'"
A top campaign official bristled at the notion that
Schwarzenegger's fundraising machine is slowing down, saying there
is no comparison between 2005 and now.
"In 2005, he called for a special election and completely
turned the political process on its head," said Adam Mendelsohn,
Schwarzenegger's former communications director who now serves as a
key political consultant. "It rivals only his re-election in
terms of political time and energy.
"Donors are very excited about this campaign and not leery
at all," Mendelsohn said. "The donors, like everyone else,
understand that you cannot compare this to 2005."
Bob Hagerty, the CEO and head of Pleasanton-based Polycom, a
company that makes communication equipment, has bought into
Schwarzenegger's campaign to change the way political boundaries are
drawn. He contributed $15,000 to the governor's general purpose
campaign account, the California Dream Team, fully aware the money
would be transferred to the redistricting campaign, California
Voters First.
"I said, 'Put it where you think it's most needed,'"
Hagerty said. "The big problem we have in Sacramento is getting
people to compromise. It's a greater-good issue. This (ballot drive)
looks like a good fundamental change that will keep our state
viable."
Having nearly depleted his California Dream Team reserve — down
to $697,000 by the end of 2007 — Schwarzenegger had to move
quickly to replenish it in time to purchase signature gathering for
the redistricting initiative. In a matter of four months, he has
taken just less rthan $4 million for the Dream Team coffers, and an
additional $1.5 million for the California Voters First committee.
He has transferred $2.1 million from the Dream Team account to
California Voters First, which has spent most of it on signature
gathering and political consultants.
He has turned to reliable sources: Ten of the 17 who have given
more than $100,000 this year are among the top 20 donors all-time to
Schwarzenegger.
Some are more notorious than others. T. Boone Pickens, a
billionaire oilman who has given $100,000 to the redistricting
ballot drive, is mostly known for helping bankroll the Swift Boat
Veterans for Truth campaign assault on Democratic nominee John Kerry
in the 2004 presidential election. Pickens and his companies have
given $920,000 to Schwarznegger.
Henry Nicholas, an Orange County billionaire who gave $150,000 to
the Dream Team last month and has contributed $1.3 million overall
to the governor, was named last month as a potential unindicted
co-conspirator in a federal investigation of the company he
co-founded, Broadcom, a computer chip maker. The company is accused
of illegally backdating stock options. He has denied involvement and
has since checked into the Betty Ford Center to spend a month in an
alcohol rehabilitation program.
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