Democrats Question Funding of Wilson’s Asia Trip : Politics: State party chairman says corporate donations may be illegal. The governor’s office dismisses the charge as partisan sniping.

As Republican Gov. Pete Wilson solicits potential investors in Asia, the chairman of the state Democratic Party contends that the governor’s travels may have been illegally financed by corporate donations.

Democratic Party leader Bill Press has demanded an investigation by the state Fair Political Practices Commission into the underwriting of Wilson’s travel costs by 25 big-name corporate contributors.

“The public has a right know whether Pete Wilson acted illegally in arranging for corporations to pony up $140,000 for his Asian excursion,” Press said in a letter to the commission.

But the governor’s spokesman, Dan Schnur, on Friday dismissed Press’ demand as predictable partisan sniping. “We worked with both government and private counsel to make sure the fund-raising mechanism met all legal requirements,” Schnur said.

Donors included the California Economic Development Commission, an association of business executives, which gave $20,000; MCA, $10,000; New United Motor Manufacturing, $10,000, and Whitecliff Homes, $10,000.

Officials of the FPPC were unavailable for comment Friday, but they routinely review such requests.

Accompanied by 45 state officials and business executives, Wilson is on a 17-day tour of Asian countries trying to line up investments that would help pump up California’s troubled economy.

Press, citing reports in the Sacramento News and Review and the San Francisco Examiner, questioned the legality of accepting private funds for the trip. He noted that a recently enacted political reform law forbids private gifts in excess of $250 to state officials.

The $140,000 was deposited in a special account established for the Asia trip by the cabinet-level state Trade and Commerce Agency. Press asked the FPPC whether the account was proper and if it was legal for Wilson to accept “special interest” funds for the trip.

Press said that Wilson “is looking for a way to end-run new, tough ethics laws passed by the Legislature.”

Schnur defended the financing arrangement and accused Press of “political gamesmanship. It’s his job to criticize Republicans.”

“If the trip had been paid at taxpayer expense, Press would be criticizing us for using scarce taxpayer dollars,” Schnur said. “If we hadn’t taken the trip, he’d be criticizing us for not doing everything we can to promote trade in California.”

Schnur compared acceptance of the money by the governor to the long-established practice of government agencies receiving corporate gifts of funds to underwrite special programs in the schools.

He also recalled that Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco) last winter solicited donations from business to finance his state economic summit meeting in Los Angeles. “We think it was an appropriate action,” Schnur said.

He said contributions from businesses were solicited for the governor’s Asia travels with the “specific intent to finance the trade mission.” He said the special Commerce and Trade Agency account was created especially for the funds.

“There is a very large distinction between a gift to an individual and a donation to the state of California,” he said.

The expenses of Wilson and his wife, Gayle, are being paid by the corporations, as are those of six other state officials and gubernatorial staff members. Taxpayers are picking up the expenses of several Trade and Commerce Agency members and other aides.

The expenses of the approximately 20 business members of the delegation are being paid by private sources. Many of the firms that financed the tour sent representatives.