Arnold rode in on a horse of reform.  He’s riding to re-election on a horse of special interest cash.  He’s raised nearly $100 Million dollars of special interest cash to date, and now Former Gov. George Deukmejian is chastising him for taking money during the bill signing/veto period.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was not inspecting the orange crop when he slipped out of the state for a quick trip to Florida, and he wasn’t eyeing a new set of wheels when he visited with car dealers.

Nor was he parched when he bellied up to liquor dealers in Lake Tahoe, or craving a burger when he chatted with Jack-in-the-Box owners. Rather, he was gobbling up campaign money at each stop.

As legislators were approving more than 1,000 bills in August, Schwarzenegger was crossing the state, and the country, soliciting campaign cash. Now, as he decides whether to sign those bills into law or nix them with a veto, he will be cashing checks from scores of contributors whose interests intersect with legislation.
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Former Gov. George Deukmejian, a Republican and a Schwarzenegger backer who chastised Davis for raising money during bill signings, similarly criticized the current governor in an interview last week.

“Personally, I think that should be avoided because it a very sensitive time,” Deukmejian said. (LA Times 9/11/06)

Does he need the money so badly that he can’t wait until the veto period expires?  I guess so.  He just can’t resist a few special interest dollars.  So much for reforming Sacramento, huh?