Arnold Schwarzenegger is playing a shell game to get around California's campaign finance laws, which prohibit him from raising more than $22,300 per donor for his campaign. Arnold has created multiple political committees to use as slush funds, claiming that they are only to support the ballot questions that he has called a special election for. But in reality, even the Governor's own political consultants admit that these initiatives are the central strategy for the Governor's re-election. He has even used these committees to raise funds directly for his own campaign and pay for ads that promote his qualifications for office.

TheRestofUs.org filed a complaint in February 2005 with the Fair Political Practices Commission asking them to enforce a law that prohibits candidates from raising more than $22,300 from any single donor for ballot committees that they control. Arnold responded by suing the FPPC and temporarily suspending that law.

In May 2005, TheRestofUs.org asked a judge to issue a preliminary injunction that would prevent Arnold's ballot committees from using unlimited contributions to promote his candidacy. We specifically pointed the Court to the JoinArnold.com website, which was paid for by the California Recovery Team but which was actively promoting Arnold as a candidate and even raising funds for his re-election committee. Arnold responded by changing his website and then suing TheRestofUs.org in an effort to shut us up.

Unfortunately, even if we are ultimately successful, these enforcement actions are happening so slowly that there may not be final rulings until after the November 2005 special election. That's why we're asking you to sign the following petition that asks Arnold to comply with the letter and spirit of California campaign finance law. Public pressure may be the best way to get Arnold to comply.

Please add your name to the following petition:

When you ran for Governor, you said that you would sweep the special interests out of Sacramento. You said that you were so rich yourself that you wouldn't need to ask special interests for money. We want to believe you, but you're making it awfully hard.

You are wining and dining fat cats with your hand outstretched. You are asking for, and getting, contributions of $100,000 or more from these interests to pursue your agenda through ballot initiatives. Even Gray Davis would blush at the amounts of money you are raising. Nobody gives that much money without wanting something in return.

Under California law, you can only raise contributions of $22,300 or less for your campaign. You are trying to get around this rule by raising money for ballot committees. But even the folks on that committee don't seem to believe your game. They've said that these ballot committees are part of your re-election strategy and these committees have paid for expenses that have everything to do about promoting yourself and nothing to do with ballot initiatives.

Caught red-handed, you're now trying to get the law you are breaking overturned by the courts. Worse yet, you are suing the only watchdog that is blowing the whistle on your fundraising.

Rules are for everyone Arnold. The rest of us have to abide by the laws of the state, and so should you. If you want to support questions on the ballot, please do so in accordance with the letter and spirit of the law.

Most importantly, we urge you to stop your lawsuits asking the courts to overturn the very law you are breaking.

if you have problems with this form, please e-mail info@therestofus.org