The gift that keeps on giving

Every year Gov. Schwarzenegger has to file a "statement of economic interest" with the FPPC. And every year the filings result in some fun stories. Mark Martin in the Chronicle talks about all the gifts the governor received in 2005. There was a wooden chess set from the governor of Baja California in Mexico, decorated chopsticks from the governor of Hiroshima, Japan, and a painting from the prime minister of Croatia. Many gifts were less exotic: wine, chocolates and, probably due to extensive coverage of the governor's love of a good cigar, plenty of stogies. The LA Times, meanwhile takes a look at the fact that there are three rich guys running for governor. The statements this year serve as a display of potential political weaponry. For the first time in California, individual contributions are capped at $22,300 in the primary and another $22,300 in the general election. But there is no limit to how much of his own money a candidate can spend, and the vast wealth of at least two of the candidates underscores how important personal bank accounts have become to political candidates.