Governor of California Jerry Brown is in hot water as his state balances on the edge of bankruptcy. Reports are coming out that the governor has allegedly taken $3 million from a fund that was created “in honor of the victims of the 2001 terror attacks” to make up for state shortfalls. But he’s not the only one. Former governor Arnold Schwartzenegger is also accused of being involved.
AP reports,
The AP also found that Gov. Jerry Brown and former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger had taken $3 million raised by a memorial plate created in honor of the victims of the 2001 terror attacks. The money was used to help close the state’s budget deficit.
They went on to point out:
In the case of the memorial plates, the revenue was supposed to provide scholarships to the children of California residents who perished in the attacks and to help fund anti-terrorism efforts. But only $20,000 of the $15 million collected has been distributed in scholarships.
The AP reported in June that dozens of people who appear to have been eligible for the scholarships were unaware of the program. Several, including an aspiring lawyer and a college freshman, are hoping they may still be able to take advantage of the program, which closed to new applicants in 2005.
Sen. Mark DeSaulnier said, “This is an obvious case where there’s a need, there’s an incredible benefit, and that’s why people paid for the plate. To think that the money would go anywhere else is inconceivable to me.”
However, there appears to be no oversight where these funds are directed. This is just like government. they get people to buy into things like this and then they are completely irresponsible with the money and unaccountable to anyone.
Charity is the work of people, not government. If people want to set up these funds, let them. When it comes to government being in the charity business, it’s always a bad idea, because the only ones they will be totally charitable to is themselves.
This is just more reason why we don’t need more gun control and need more politician control.
