Health Care Groups Among Not-For-Profit Contributors to Schwarzenegger
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) has accepted more than $3 million in contributions from not-for-profit groups, including some with ties to health care organizations or other groups that might have interests in issues before the state, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Unlike for-profit groups, not-for-profit organizations are not required to disclose their political contributions. According to the Times, many of the not-for-profits that contributed to Schwarzenegger accept donations from corporations that have "business before his office."
For example, Catholic Healthcare West, which includes 40 hospitals in California and the Southwest, donated $100,000 to the not-for-profit California Commission for Jobs and Economic Growth. The commission, of which Schwarzenegger is an honorary member, raised $1 million from corporate donors and "staged events ... featuring Schwarzenegger as a way to boost economic development," the Times reports.
In addition, the Blue Cross of California Foundation, a philanthropic unit of WellPoint, has pledged $300,000 over two years to the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and operated a booth at the council's launch in June. Drug maker Pfizer contributed $150,000 to the council (Salladay/Nicholas, Los Angeles Times, 8/24).