On The Money: Brown Bags The SWAG
By Mike Luery
Sacramento (CBS13) -- Your California state government has been spending millions of dollars on trinkets like key chains, pens and sticky note pads. Tonight Governor Jerry Brown is ordering it to stop.
Brown has opted to bag the "SWAG" – Capitol lingo for "stuff we all get" – items like free calculator rulers from the California Highway Patrol – or note holders from Caltrans in the shape of a mini traffic cone.
Years ago, I worked for the Department of Consumer Affairs – where I observed SWAG items like mouse pads, hats and toy cars – knick knacks given out at public events – but paid for by taxpayers.
But today Governor Brown is banning SWAG and he identified the biggest spender:
- The Business, Transportation and Housing Agency which is home to the California Highway Patrol and the Department of Motor Vehicles, shelled out $5,088.037 between 2007 and 2010
- State and Consumer Services Agency spent $1,154,960
- Health and Human Services Agency spent $778,678.
The freebies are not really free – costing taxpayers more than $7.5 million in the past three years. The items include these novelties given away by the Franchise Tax Board:
- 4,000 mini-grow plant kits @$1.15 each for $4,600
- 1,000 wallets @2.69 each, adding up to $2,690
- 5,000 ballpoint pens @53 cents each, clicking out to $2,632
- 5,000 mini-desk lights @1.76 each, illuminating an $8,800 hole in the pocket of taxpayers
- 20,000 metallic pencil pouches @14 cents each for a total of $2,800
- 20,000 sticky note pads @27 cents each, for $5,400 of your money
I asked the Governor for his reaction in learning the SWAG total was $7.5 million. Brown responded, "I had no idea of that. In a government this big, stuff goes on that people in other parts of the government don't know anything about. So yeah it is shocking."
Today's action follows the hiring freeze and the governor's Executive Order to cut cell phones and vehicle use in half. It's part of the Governor Brown's plan to save $363 million in the next fiscal year.
If you see examples of government waste, send us an e-mail to onthemoney@kovr.com. You can also follow On The Money stories in progress via Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/mikeluery.
