CFA CALLS FOR SARAH PALIN CSU-STANISLAUS FUNDRAISER DETAILS TO BE RELEASED

CFA is among those asking questions about where the money is coming from to pay former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's six-figure speaking engagement at CSU Stanislaus.

It was revealed last week that the CSU Stanislaus Foundation would pay for Palin to speak at the campus’ 50th anniversary celebration in June.

Palin’s typical speaker fee is between $100,000 and $200,000, and on occasion more. For more background on the controversy surrounding Palin’s visit to the CSU,

go to: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/03/29/BA321CMU9A.DTL

CFA president Lillian Taiz said, “This is just the latest example in a continuing pattern of problems involving these foundations that highlights the need for better oversight.

“At a time when the 23 CSU campuses are severely underfunded, it is imperative that every penny be used to support students in the classrooms.”

CFA has called on CSU Stanislaus executives and the foundation to:

• Make public how much money they are going to pay former Governor Palin;

• Reveal whether related costs such as security, the use of buildings and staff and other costs are being covered by the foundation or by taxpayer dollars;

• Account for how much time CSU executives, managers and their support staff, from the campus president on down, who are all on the taxpayer payroll, devote to the event; and

• Reveal who contributed the money and whether they have any business interests with the CSU.

Furthermore, it is high time that the nature of these foundations be made open, public and transparent.

That is why the CFA is a sponsor of SB 330, a bill that would apply California’s public records laws to auxiliary organizations tied to our public higher education systems—in the UC and community colleges, as well as the CSU. State Senator Leland Yee is author of SB 330 and the California Newspaper Publishers Association is also a sponsor.

To read CFA’s full statement on the matter go to: http://calfac.org/allpdf/newsreleas/2010_pressrel/PR_033110_Palin.pdf