Gov. Cancels Events Before Activists Can Crash Them

As if Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger doesn’t have his hands full selling his budget package to the voters, he’s also catching flak from taxpayer activists for his efforts to retire his $4-million campaign debt.

Schwarzenegger decided twice to postpone political fundraisers in Sacramento in the last two weeks after activists threatened to crash the events, with television cameras in tow. They want to call attention to what they see as the governor’s reneging on his promise to refrain from fundraising during budget deliberations.

The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumers Rights had publicly announced plans to show up at both fundraising events with 21,200 jelly beans, representing the $21,200 limit on campaign donations. During his campaign, Schwarzenegger handed out jelly beans to voters. “We were going to see if that would buy our way in,” said Jamie Court, the foundation’s president.

Schwarzenegger postponed a fundraiser planned last week at the Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel with San Diego Chargers owner Alex Spano as host, but a spokeswoman said the governor had changed plans so he could focus on the state budget talks, not because of criticism.

Schwarzenegger went ahead with a private fundraiser, away from the Sacramento press corps, when he flew to Orange County on Wednesday to attend an event whose host was Donald Bren, chief executive of the Irvine Co.

Court’s group and others believe the fundraising conflicts with Schwarzenegger’s campaign pledge to seek “a ban on all fundraising by the Legislature and the governor from the day I propose a budget until I sign a budget” that is certified by the state controller to be in balance.

“There is no question that he has broken his promise when the governor says he is not going to fundraise during the budget talks and will not take money from special interests, and then he goes about retiring his $4-million campaign debt with fundraising after he puts a budget forth,” Court said.

A Schwarzenegger representative disputed the criticism, saying the governor had been talking about the regular budget process, which does not begin until January.

“This isn’t the same, because he hasn’t submitted a budget,” said Margita Thompson, a spokeswoman for the governor.

She also noted that his proposal to ban fundraising during certain periods had not been approved by the Legislature.

“When it’s law, he will follow that law,” she said.

Governor’s Spokesman Troublesome to Burton

The governor’s honeymoon with Democratic lawmakers was tested early, but not all of the blame has gone to Schwarzenegger.

Before the two sides reached a compromise on a budget reduction plan, state Senate President Pro Tem John Burton (D-San Francisco) said Schwarzenegger had not been well-served by his staff, which includes some neophytes.

As Burton was leaving Schwarzenegger’s office last week after a meeting on the budget crisis, a reporter asked him about a spokesman’s comments indicating that the governor had offered to compromise and that it was time for lawmakers to move toward him.

“I told him he ought to fire his communication director,” Burton said.

“They cause more trouble for governors than the governor’s staff, the governor or legislators. If they ever learn to keep their mouths shut and not try to prove they’re big shots ... it makes life easier.”

Burton went on to say that the ball was in Schwarzenegger’s court, but that the two sides had had “a very frank and fruitful discussion.”

Fruitful in what sense, one reporter asked.

“In that he didn’t pick me up and throw me out the window,” Burton quipped.

Statewide Office Bid by Ex-Congressman Seen

Former Glendale Congressman James Rogan is quitting his job as head of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to return to California and finish work on an autobiography, “Rough Edges.”

Although Rogan said he wanted to pursue opportunities in the private sector after leaving office Jan. 9, he was not ruling out another run for political office.

That has local pundits talking about a possible statewide campaign by the man who drew the ire of Democrats for his leading role in the 1999 U.S. Senate impeachment trial of President Clinton.

Democratic political consultant Joe Cerrell said people in political circles are talking about Rogan in connection with next year’s race for state attorney general. Rogan, a former prosecutor and judge, lost the 2000 congressional election to Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank).

Rogan said last week that he would stay in his federal post if it were not for a ban on accepting outside income.

“I’m presupposing that at least one person is going to buy my book, so that forces my hand,” he said.

GOP Senate Candidate Enters Crowded Field

Former Assemblyman Howard Kaloogian, an Encinitas Republican termed out in 2000, has morphed himself again -- into a candidate for U.S. Senate.

Kaloogian left the Assembly and helped rev up the recall against Gov. Gray Davis through his Recall Davis website, then -- voila! -- emerged with Defend Reagan.org, taking on CBS over the miniseries “The Reagans,” which the network eventually sent to Showtime.

In an e-mail to DefendReagan announcing his candidacy, Kaloogian predicted that the hundreds of thousands of citizens who had complained about CBS’ miniseries would “be the key again in my campaign for the U.S. Senate against Barbara Boxer.”

First, though, he’ll have to get past fellow Republican candidates, including Rosario Marin, who served as U.S. treasurer from 2001 to June; former Secretary of State Bill Jones; Assemblyman Tony Strickland; and Los Altos Hills Mayor Toni Casey.

Points Taken

* Crime doesn’t pay, but criminals soon may have to, at least in Los Angeles. City Councilwoman Wendy Greuel has asked the Los Angeles Police Department to look at the feasibility of charging booking fees to criminals convicted of misdemeanors and felonies in Los Angeles. “The city should not subsidize the expenses related to booking convicted criminals, given the challenges it faces delivering basic city services and putting more police on our streets,” Greuel said in a motion introduced in the City Council.

* Former Laguna Niguel City Councilman Eddie Rose, a potential future candidate for the Orange County Board of Supervisors, has an interesting twist on the endorsement game. Instead of listing high-profile figures who are supporting him, Rose’s website boasts a list of non-supporters. “I’m proud to have each and every one of them not supporting my candidacy,” he said. Those on the non-support list include Yasser Arafat, Robert Blake, Fidel Castro, Scott Peterson, O.J. Simpson, Martha Stewart and Los Angeles Mayor James K. Hahn.

* In an acknowledgment that protesting at the ballot box may be more effective than holding signs on street corners, a peace organization is registering voters who oppose the war in Iraq. The group will be active statewide but will concentrate its registration efforts in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, San Jose and the Bay Area, said Danielle Babineau, state political director for California Peace Action, which claims 35,000 members.

You Can Quote Me

“I’m depressed because I was on my way to go get a hot dog and you guys are here.”

-- State Senate Republican Leader Jim Brulte, as he emerged from budget talks and was asked by reporters if his sad demeanor were an indication that negotiations were going badly.

Times staff writers Evan Halper, Jean Pasco and Nancy Vogel contributed to this week’s column. Patt Morrison is on vacation.