SACRAMENTO — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is embarking on a whirlwind, 17-event fundraising tour from here to Boston, tapping donors who have a stake in bills soon to arrive at his desk for signature or veto.
The events come at the end of the legislative session, when past governors and most legislators traditionally have raised money. But Schwarzenegger, who has raised $22 million so far this year, has criticized the practice.
The fundraisers offer contributors a chance to sit with Schwarzenegger at a Rolling Stones concert Sunday at Fenway Park in Boston, and to watch a pennant-race baseball game between the Angels and Oakland A's in Anaheim later this month.
In the quest for cash to finance his campaign for the special election he called, the governor plans to appear Friday at a Lake Tahoe fundraiser hosted by, among others, philanthropist and former junk bond king Michael Milken. From there, he is set to jet to New Jersey for a Saturday barbecue to boost his fortunes and those of New Jersey Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Forrester.
Schwarzenegger will be collecting campaign money from individuals and entities that have major Capitol lobby operations and are embroiled in legislative battles.
Mortgage lender Ameriquest Capital Corp., which had been among Gov. Gray Davis' largest donors, is donating a block of 40 tickets to the Stones' concert for the governor's donors. Ameriquest has been lobbying on at least eight bills in recent weeks; the company and its principals have donated more than $1.5 million to Schwarzenegger's campaigns.
Arte Moreno, owner of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, intends to co-host the baseball-game fundraiser later this month. He opposes a bill by Assemblyman Tom Umberg (D-Anaheim) that would force the Angels to revert to the team's previous name -- the Anaheim Angels.
"I'm shocked, absolutely shocked, just like Capt. Renault in 'Casablanca,' that he would be going to a fundraiser at the same time legislation is pending," Umberg said sarcastically.
Umberg said he might invite Schwarzenegger to stop by his office when he is in Anaheim, to meet with local supporters of the legislation, though he had little hope that the governor would do so. Tim Mead, communications director for the Angels, said the goal of the fundraiser is to spend "a little more outreach time with the political community."
"I assure you it has nothing to do with the Umberg bill," Mead said.
