Rent Donations for Jerry Brown

California Governor Jerry Brown and First Lady Anne Gust Brown are accepting donations to pay the rent for their apartment in Sacramento.

The nonprofit Governor's Residence Foundation will cover the costs of the first couple's 1,450-square-foot apartment, leased for $3,000 per month.  Utilities will also be covered.

The mere thought of having private donors pay for the governor's residence has some raising their eyebrows, but why?  California, America's richest and most famous state, does not provide shelter for its head of state.

It was one thing when Jerry Brown was a single man as governor in the '70s.  Now he has a wife and we have a first lady.  Is chivalry completely dead?  Not in my California.

Critics say the contributions could grant "undue access and influence."  Excuse me, but exactly what kind of influence can one secure in today's Sacramento with 3-grand-a-month and change?  Rock star parking at the Capitol?

George Kieffer, president of the Governor's Residence Foundation, said the nonprofit will release the names of donors and how much they have each contributed by next January, so Brown-bashers will just have to wait to pounce on that.

"We're budgeting some additional money assuming that, from time to time, there'll be entertainment there of legislators and others, as you'd expect in connection with a governor's residence," Kieffer said.

I wonder if the petty cash for snacks will push some watchdogs completely over the edge.

As far as ethics groups screaming about payment for apartment rent as an 'end run' around campaign finance laws, please, spare me.  We're not exactly talking major bucks here, at least by Sacramento standards.

Critics are dragging up George Kieffer's law firm, Toyota, California Strategies, Lewis Investment, the Western Growers Association, developer Tejon Ranch, AT&T, Intel and Xerox to infer that companies of such stature would expect a governor to grant favors for apartment rent and snacks.

Seriously?  Are they kidding?

My L.A. colleagues and I are laughing our Botox off at this non-scandal.  Don't try to tell me this came from the Republican camp.

To those who 'spin' this apartment issue --- why don't you ask every Californian to contribute a penny each year for a governor's residence?  That should cover the rent, plus crackers and Pepsi.

Let the Browns enjoy their apartment.

Kieffer said he saw no conflict raising money for Governor Brown's Sacramento apartment.  I agree.  There it is.  A bipartisan consensus.  In California.