Schwarzenegger Will No Longer Accept Contributions From Workers’ Compensation Insurers, Others
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) will no longer accept contributions from insurers that issue workers' compensation policies, energy companies or Indian casinos, the Los Angeles Times reports.
The political team for Schwarzenegger, who has made reforms to the state workers' compensation insurance system one of his main priorities, last week returned a $25,000 contribution from Liberty Mutual, an insurer that issues workers' compensation policies.
Martin Wilson, a political aide to Schwarzenegger, said that Liberty Mutual made the contribution at an event last month. He added that officials in the Office of the Governor "asked us to return it because ... they were not comfortable with us taking the money." However, Schwarzenegger will not return previous contributions from workers' compensation insurers.
According to the Times, such contributions are "largely intended to help wage the governor's campaigns for or against" certain ballot measures.
Robert Stein, president of the Center for Governmental Studies, said that the new limits on contributions Schwarzenegger will accept "shows some sensitivity on his part to the criticism he's been getting," adding, "I applaud him for taking these actions." Stein said that Schwarzenegger "should continue to scour his contributors and make sure he's not receiving funds from people who have business" before the state (Nicholas, Los Angeles Times, 9/10).