Political Gravy Train Rolls in Sacramento: Free Gifts go unreported by 35 California lawmakers, including our local Assemblyman Tony Mendoza. Why does Penchanga Indian Tribe get away buying off our lawmakers?

My question? Why does Penchanga Band of Indians get away will buying our elected officials in Sacramento year in and year out. This "Band" needs to be busted up by the Feds, since they OWN EVERY POLITICIAN IN CALIFORNIA....

By Randy Economy
http://www.economy4abc.blogspot.com/

(...and for Wire REPORTS)

(SAC-O-CRAP, CA) Well, the political freebies in Sacramento are being doled out all over the place, and it's time for this gravy train to be derailed once and for all.

Even our local Assemblyman Tony Mendoza has been caught taking free dinners and concerts from lobbyists that are involved with bills he is sponsoring.

The California Fair Political Practices Commission is investigating 38 state lawmakers and 15 members of their staffs for failing to report thousands of dollars worth of gifts in 2008.

Failure to disclose such gifts can bring fines of up to $5,000 for each violation. Here are some of the lawmakers and what the commission says they failed to report, all in 2008:

— Sen. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello, did not report $2,367.15 worth of gifts for himself and his wife. The senator's office says he is reviewing the allegation.

The commission letter says Calderon failed to report a $189.94 meal from Medtronic on Oct. 15; greens fee worth $250 from the Cable and Telecommunications Association on Jan. 17; concert tickets worth $300 from Verizon on May 11; a $160.21 dinner from the Association of California Insurance Companies on July 12; $390 for meal and lodging from Oct. 1-3 from the Association of California Life and Health Insurance Companies; $1,077 for meal and spa treatments given to Ana Calderon from the Association of California Life and Health Insurance Companies that same weekend.

— Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, did not report a $112.78 for dinner from AT&T; $94.46 for a reception hosted by the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians; and a $59.06 dinner from Chevron Corp.  Bass's attorney, Stephen Kaufman, described the mistake as a "bookkeeping error" and said the speaker has amended her report.

Assemblyman Tom Berryhill, R-Modesto, failed to report a $59.50 Keith Urban concert ticket and an $89.50 Sacramento Kings basketball ticket from the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians; $195 for Sea World tickets from Anheuser-Busch; $282 for Disneyland tickets from the Walt Disney Co.

— Assemblyman Curren Price, D-Los Angeles, failed to report $110 worth of horse racing admissions, parking and lunch from the Oak Tree Racing Association; $99.48 for a legislative reception hosted by the Wine Institute; $94.46 for dinner courtesy of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians; $74.34 for food and beverages from the Farmers Group; and $52.60 for a reception hosted by the California Cable and Telecommunications Association.

— Former Assembly Minority Leader Mike Villines, R-Clovis, who served as GOP leader in 2008, failed to report a $256.98 gift for Sacramento Kings tickets, a parking pass and refreshments on Nov. 11. He did not report a $124.49 dinner from the Boeing Company on May 20. Villines acknowledged the mistake and says he has filed an amended report.

— Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, failed to disclose accepting a $63.92 dinner from the Chukchansi Economic Development Authority and $94.46 for a reception hosted by the Pechanga tribe. Romero's chief of staff said the senator appears to have filed the Chukchansi dinner under the wrong category and is challenging the Pechanga dinner, saying Romero never attended the event. Romero's office is working with the commission to refile a corrected gift report.

— Assemblyman Tom Torlakson, D-Antioch, did not report a $120.99 gift from AT&T for a Sacramento Kings game and refreshments. Torlakson's chief of staff, Richard Zeiger, said the assemblyman admits to the error and plans to pay back the gift.

— Sen. Dennis Hollingsworth, R-Murrieta, failed to list a $110 gift for airport parking and shuttle service from the city of Los Angeles. He was minority leader in 2009. Hollingsworth's spokesman, Hector Barajas, said the senator forgot about the time he parked at LAX.

-- Sen. Bob Dutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga, failed to list a $101.17 gift of food and drinks from the California Professional Firefighters, which sponsored a political retreat for Democrats and Republicans. He was selected minority leader by the Senate Republican caucus this year. Dutton said his staff filed the firefighters event under the wrong year. He said he submitted a new gift report several months ago.

— Assemblyman Pedro Nava, D-Santa Barbara, failed to report gifts from Bank of America worth $153.63 and received $94.46 for a dinner covered by the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians. Nava is running for attorney general and would oversee the state Department of Justice.

— Sen. Dave Cox, R-Fair Oaks, failed to report a $390 ticket to the Holiday Bowl game between Oregon and Oklahoma State from Pacific Life Insurance Co. Cox, a native of Oklahoma, said he has amended the report and is working with the commission to resolve the matter.

— Sen. George Runner, R-Lancaster, failed to report gifts for Keith Urban and George Strait concert tickets from the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians. Runner said he did not immediately report the gifts because he usually waits until he has been notified by the gift giver about the value.  Runner said he does not remember if he or his staff attended the concerts. The senator said he will work with the commission and change his office reporting procedures.

— Assemblyman Martin Garrick, R-Solana Beach, failed to list a $124.49 dinner from The Boeing Co.; a $51.73 reception paid by the Consulting Engineers and Land Surveyors of California; $105 worth of tickets from the Oak Tree Racing Association; and $146 event tickets from Sempra Energy.

— Assemblywoman Audra Strickland, R-Thousand Oaks, failed to list $82.50 for Billy Joel concert tickets from the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians.

-- Sen. Sam Aanestad, R-Grass Valley, failed to list a $56.25 George Strait concert ticket from the Pechanga tribe.

— Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Davis, failed to list a $151.51 stay at the Wine and Roses hotel in Lodi from the Consumer Attorneys of California.

— Sen. Patricia Wiggins, D-Santa Rosa, failed to list a $110.95 dinner paid by Bank of America.

— Assemblywoman Lori Saldana, D-San Diego, failed to list a $110.95 lunch at Ella's restaurant in Sacramento, paid by Bank of America; a $77.77 dinner paid by the California Manufacturers and Technology Association; and a $94.46 dinner paid by the Pechanga tribe.

— Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, failed to list a $94.46 dinner paid by the Pechanga tribe; a $110.95 Women's Legislative Caucus dinner paid by Bank of America; and a $52.60 reception hosted by the California Cable and Telecommunications Association.

— Sen. Christine Kehoe, D-San Diego, failed to list a $151.51 hotel stay paid by the Consumer Attorneys of California and a $110.95 dinner paid by Bank of America.

— Sen. Bob Huff, R-Diamond Bar, failed to list a $170 airport parking and shuttle gift from the city of Los Angeles.

— Assemblyman Warren Furutani, D-Lakewood, failed to list a $50.62 reception from the California Cable and Telecommunications Association, a $50.71 reception paid by Chevron Corp., and a $94.46 reception from the Pechanga tribe.

— Assemblywoman Jean Fuller, R-Bakersfield, failed to list a $110.95 dinner paid by Bank of America and a $100 dinner paid by U.S. Borax.

— Assemblyman Bill Emmerson, R-Redlands, failed to list a $63.73 gift for a reception hosted by the Lumber Association of California and Nevada.

— Sen. Mimi Walters, R-Mission Viejo, failed to list a $100 ticket to the U.S. Open Championship and parking pass paid by AT&T and $152.65 in food and beverages from the California Professional Firefighters.

— Assemblyman Anthony Adams, R-Hesperia, failed to list $100 in airport parking and shuttle service from the city of Los Angeles.

— Assemblywoman Anna Caballero, D-Salinas, failed to list a $94.46 dinner from the Pechanga tribe and $206.92 for a reception paid by the Consulting Engineers and Land Surveyors.

— Assemblywoman Wilmer Carter, D-Rialto, failed to list a $259.96 breakfast from the Lumber Association of California and Nevada and a $52.60 reception from the California Cable and Telecommunications Association.

— Assemblyman Tony Mendoza, D-Artesia, failed to list a $94.46 dinner from Pechanga and $110 tickets to the taping of "The George Lopez Show."

— Assemblyman Paul Cook, R-Yucca Valley, failed to report a $56.25 ticket for a George Strait concert from the Pechanga tribe.

— Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter, failed to list a $128.01 dinner from the Pechanga tribe.

— Assemblywoman Mary Salas, D-Chula Vista, failed to list a $94.46 dinner from Pechanga.

— Assemblyman Edward Hernandez, D-Baldwin Park, failed to list a $94.46 dinner from Pechanga.

— Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi, D-Hayward, failed to list a $94.46 dinner from Pechanga.

— Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes, D-Bakersfield, failed to list a $94.46 dinner from Pechanga.

— Assemblyman Mike Eng, D-Monterey Park, failed to list a $94.46 dinner from Pechanga.

-- Assemblyman Hector de la Torre, D-South Gate, failed to list a $94.46 dinner from Pechanga.

— Assemblyman Joe Coto, D-San Jose, failed to list a $94.46 dinner from Pechanga.



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