Does John Chiang have a Boss?

JULY 12, 2010

By KATY GRIMES

Who is California state Controller John Chiang’s boss? The answer is surprisingly elusive. Right now, it appears that Chiang doesn’t even answer to the governor or the executive branch, much less the state’s judiciary.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger recently ordered Chiang to pay the state’s civil servant workers minimum wage until the legislature can pass a budget. But Chiang told the governor no.

Repeatedly.

Meredith Turney of the group Americans for Prosperity says that “since Chiang is willing to defy both the governor and the judiciary, something is holding his feet to the fire.” Turney suggests that Chiang is being directed to defy the governor by the state’s labor unions, all of which are very large contributors to his campaigns.

The SEIU labor union has maxed out their contributions to Chiang’s campaigns every year he has been in office, according to Turney. Chiang received more than $190,000 in campaign contributions from state employee labor unions in his 2010 re-election bid, which accounted for nearly 22 percent of all his contributions. According to campaign reports filed through May 22, 2010, Chiang received large donations from the California Teachers Association, SEIU, Electrical Workers Union, Firefighters Union, California Labor Federation Operating Engineers, and California State Council of Service Employees (click here for his contribution list).

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