This week last year Governor
Schwarzenegger issued a proclamation calling it "Consumer Protection
Week." This year, Schwarzenegger faced unprecedented public protests
during the past week as he fundraised for six-figure contributions for
a special election in apparent violation of campaign finance laws. If
Schwarzenegger is ultimately dissuaded from calling his special
election, this week could prove to be the real consumer protection week.
Yesterday, nurses and consumer advocates, with air support from Air
Arnold, had the gov on the run for the third time this week. Arnold was
in San Diego at Petco Park as part of a barnstorm across the state to
raise money for his ballot initiative battle plan. The group forced the
governor to sneak into his lunchtime fundraiser through a side door.
The latest message to the gov on a banner plane flying high above Petco
Park read, "RNs to Arnold: Protect Patients, Not Your Donors." To watch
a video of yesterday’s protest, click here (this is a large file and may take awhile to download).
Arnold will be taking flight himself next week for Washington, DC, with
California legislative leaders. If Assembly Speaker Nunez wants to show
solidarity with the students, nurses, teachers, and firefighters
Schwarzenegger is attacking, Nunez should break with tradition and fly
back East on a different plane from Schwarzenegger. If he does, we’ll
call Nunez’s plane Air Arnold.
