Statements

Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi, who missed the Trustee and Regent meetings of both the California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC) respectively, continued his blatant, hypocritical grandstanding yesterday at the state capitol.  Standing on the steps of the capitol building, Garamendi collected letters from CSU students opposing fee increases approved by the CSU Trustees at their latest meeting - a meeting unattended by Garamendi, either personally or by an official designee.

Yet, while not seeing it fit to "walk the walk," the Lieutenant Governor has had no problem "talking the talk."  In the 2006 Union Tribune Voter Guide, Garamendi's platform began with, "Stop college fee increase" and in his Lieutenant Governor website, Garamendi wrote, "As Lt. Governor, I will sit on the Board of Regents of the University of California and I will be the Trustee of the California State University System....  We must stop the ever increasing tuition and fee increases that make it impossible for many quality students to go to college."

Indeed, Garamendi has been talking up a storm while casting himself as a zealous opponent of student fee increases.  After not attending either the UC or CSU fee increase meetings, Garamendi has issued statements, expressed his frustration to the media, cast blame on the Governor and legislature, attended student forums, and just yesterday, we witnessed the spectacle of letter-collection from the students Garamendi failed to substantively represent.

Our students need to realize that while Garamendi continues to play politics with this issue - and their pocketbooks - their eager advocate should and must be held accountable.  An important part of being a leader is showing up when it matters most, a task the Lieutenant Governor, while disingenuously speaking out on behalf of students, has blatantly failed in.

Hector M. Barajas, Communications Director, California Republican Party

Garamendi Promises To Be "A Very Active Regent And Trustee."
"'I'm already talking with the top people at UC and CSU about that,' he said.  'I'm going to be a very active regent and trustee.'" (Thomas Elias, "Garamendi Vows 'Revival' For Lt. Gov.'s Office," San Gabriel Tribune, 2/16/07)

Garamendi Promises To Stop Tuition And Fee Increases
"As Lt. Governor, I will sit on the Board of Regents of the University of California and I will be the Trustee of the California State University System....  We must stop the ever increasing tuition and fee increases that make it impossible for many quality students to go to college."  (John Garamendi, "What I Will Do As Lieutenant Governor Of California, Accessed: 4/18/07)

• "Platform: Stop college fee increases." (San Diego Union Tribune - General Election Voter Guide, 10/18/06)
  

THE HYPOCRITICAL GRANDSTANDING BEGINS

Garamendi Fails To Attend March 14, 2007 Regent Meeting
(http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/regents/minutes/2007/mar07.html)

The "Very Active Regent and Trustee" Skips Both UC and CSU Meetings, Yet Issues Statement Denouncing Student Fee Hikes
"Lt. Governor issued a statement today calling the fee hikes at the University of California and Cal State University System 'an unfair tax on California's youth, and a dangerously shortsighted move.'  California, he said, has a 'moral obligation to invest in our future generations.'  Yet Garamendi skipped a vote yesterday by the UC Board of Regents that raised college fees 7%, and he missed the Cal State University trustee meeting that hiked fees 10%."  (Robert Salladay, "Elected Officials Duck Controversial Vote On College Fees," Los Angeles Times - Political Muscle, 3/15/07)

Garamendi Expresses Frustration On Fee Increases
"At yesterday's board meeting, Lt. Gov. John Garamendi expressed frustration with the 7 percent fee increase applying to UC undergraduates and graduate students and the average 10 percent increase for professional students, pledging to work with the governor and the state legislature to buy back the fee increases.  'I think it is wrong, and the legislature and the governor have found a way to have the regents tax students to raise the funds necessary to support the UC,' he said." (Julia Szinai, "UC Board Approves Fee Increase," Daily Californian, 3/16/07)

THE HYPOCRITICAL GRANDSTANDING CONTINUES

"Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, members of the CA Student Assn., 'voice their concerns' over proposed student fee increase in CSU budget...."  (Capitol Morning Report, 4/16/07)

"And Lt. Gov. John Garamendi will be on the Capitol steps to collect letters from California State University students opposing student fee increases." (Sacramento Bee -Capitol Alert, 5/9/07)