California Insider

Deep in this long LA Times story on corporations donating to nonprofits that benefit the governor is this little tidbit:

"[State Treasurer Phil] Angelides... reported soliciting $35,000 from two unions in March to support the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a prominent Schwarzenegger critic."

The FTCR has long jealously guarded information about its financial supporters, even as it insists that everyone else in the political world disclose theirs. If, as this report suggests, the foundation is getting support from unions at the behest of one of the state's top Democrats, it looks as if they can say goodbye to any claim of being an independent voice for consumers, not to mention taxpayers.

The New Republic weighs in on Schwarzenegger's teacher tenure reform, Proposition 74.