Has Schwarzenegger brought the spoils system to California?

That’s what you might conclude by reading the latest LA Times report on the favoritism the Governor has given to those who supported his reelection campaign:

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, once a critic of patronage in government, has rewarded 29 aides from his reelection campaign with state jobs, promotions and hefty raises… Administration staffers from the governor’s first term who were employed by Californians for Schwarzenegger in 2006 today earn an average 27% more than they did in January 2006. That is 8 percentage points more than the average salary increase given to aides who were never employed by the campaign, state payroll records show.

Couple the with the revelation that Governor Schwarzenegger paid huge “bonuses” to his Chief of Staff and other senior officials- apparently from Corporate campaign donations, and it is obvious that the seeds have been planted for a corrupt state government. They may not be there yet, but they are getting dangerously close.