Schwarzenegger To Pay $30K For Campaign Complaint

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has agreed to pay $30,000 to California's campaign finance watchdog agency to settle a nearly 3-year-old complaint.

Schwarzenegger spent $1.1 million from his ballot measure campaign to advocate for his position on the state budget. The Fair Political Practices Commission says that violates state campaign laws.

The commission will consider the settlement on March 15.

The Republican governor, who left office last year, spent the money on advertising during a dispute with legislative Democrats in July 2009. But such money is only supposed to be spent for specific ballot issues.

California Democratic Party Chairman John Burton filed the complaint.

Schwarzenegger spokesman Adam Mendelsohn said in a statement Tuesday that the former governor decided to pay the fine to avoid waging an expensive legal fight.