The business-backed California State Protocol Foundation paid $303,550 for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to travel five days last November to Israel and Iraq, according to a gift disclosure form he filed today.
While in Baghdad, Iraq, Schwarzenegger gave a speech, signed autographs and lifted weights with American troops. The governor claimed on his gift form a $750 one-night stay at military quarters in the Baghdad "Green Zone." That was cheap compared to his $2,500 one-night stay in Israel, where he attended the Saban Forum to discuss global climate change.
The Protocol Foundation is run by officials at the California Chamber of Commerce and other business groups and often pays for Schwarzenegger's travel costs on government business. The nonprofit foundation generally does not disclose its donors.
Protocol Foundation also paid $213,237 for Schwarzenegger to travel for three days to a technology conference last March in Germany, as well as $44,521 for a transportation conference in Detroit.
Much of the travel costs are likely associated with the governor's private plane, which can cost more than $10,000 per hour, according to an estimate by one firm that arranges private jet travel.
By comparison, Protocol Foundation spent only $10,100 for Schwarzenegger to travel to the United Nations global climate conference in Copenhagen, Denmark in December. For that trip, he flew commercial.
Among other gifts to Schwarzenegger were a $50 wreath from former Speaker Fabian Núñez, a $60 bottle of wine from San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and a $75 candle set from the King and Queen of Jordan. He also received $100 in food and dietary supplements from Michael O. Johnson, the chairman and CEO of Herbalife.
Schwarzenegger did not report the big knife he received as a gift last year and famously waved in a video he posted to Twitter during budget talks. Spokesman Aaron McLear said that it was a "reciprocal gift" and thereby not required to be included.
IMAGE: Schwarzenegger visits with U.S. troops during his November trip to Iraq. Credit: Ali Al-Saadi/AFP/Getty Images
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