Governor Chooses Hollywood Schmooze Over Disabled Children

State Capitol, Phoenix Ten days after House Speaker Jim Weiers requested a special session to fund a scholarship program for disabled and foster children, Gov. Janet Napolitano still has not responded. However, the governor didfind time to hobnob with stars in Hollywood last week, taking time to attend events such as a 3D version of Terminator 2, a Gala event at Universal Studios and a private dinner at Gov. Arnold Schwarzeneggers posh Brentwood estate. School has started for the hundreds of disabled and foster children who need these scholarships but the governor prefers to go to Hollywood and mingle with movie stars and celebrities, Weiers said. Its a disservice to the children who now have lost their best educational opportunity. Weiers asked the governor to call a brief special session to fund the disabled and foster child scholarship programs that were gutted in this years budget. Weiers offered to fund the $5 million program through a reserve fund in the House and without impacting the state general fund. The governor has not responded. In addition, state schools chief Tom Horne sent a letter to the governor asking for her Department of Administration to approve a $5 million transfer to the programs in order to avoid a special session. As of last Friday, Napolitano had not answered the letter. Meanwhile, students returned to school but the governor has been out of state for much of the last 10 days, attending to political and leisure events. Schwarzenegger is skipping some of events he is hosting for a regional governors conference to attend to state budget issues in California. Weiers said Napolitano should follow his lead and take care of state business before hanging with the stars. The other governors will understand, The budget is the most important thing, Schwarzenegger told the Los Angeles Times. The Arizona Republic stated, The Legislature and Gov. Napolitano have the means to keep these programs alive. All they need is the will. The Legislature has the will, Weiers said. It is up to the governor to join us to give these children the best opportunity to succeed.