Bad Reviews for Schwarzenegger Vetoes

Re “Governor Vetoes 273 Bills but Signs 571,” Oct. 3:

I’m greatly disappointed that the governor vetoed SB 1164, which would have granted the press the right to interview inmates inside prisons.

The only argument offered against the normal rights of a free press is that it would make more work for the guards. This is a small price to pay to protect against abuses of prisoners.

Most prisoners do not have the resources to hire lawyers to protest if they have been abused. Do we really want our prisons to become like those in Iraq?

W. Earl Haberlin

La Canada Flintridge

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Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed four bills that would have made it easier for Californians to import cheap prescription drugs from Canada.

Schwarzenegger has received more than $330,000 in campaign donations from pharmaceutical companies. Well, at least senior citizens, people living with HIV/AIDS and uninsured or low-income Californians now know whose side Schwarzenegger is really on.

Chris Prevatt

Garden Grove

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Scenario One: Schwarzenegger appoints a supposedly blue-ribbon panel to study the restructuring of California government. This panel meets in secret and gets information only from those it selects. It suggests abolishing many boards and commissions, including those dealing with clean air and other important social and environmental issues. Schwarzenegger embraces the report and sends the panelists on a statewide, taxpayer-supported dog-and-pony show.

Scenario Two: Schwarzenegger appoints a supposedly blue-ribbon panel to study last October’s devastating brush fires. This panel’s proceedings are entirely noncontroversial. The panel makes a series of recommendations, which the Legislature immediately embraces with a set of legislation. The governor vetoes four of the five bills, leaving only legislation that requires the state Board of Forestry to file additional paperwork.

The only explanation for the vastly different outcomes is the influence of big money.

Donald DeLuccio

West Hollywood