Hot on the heels of his conversation with Mr. Riordan and Mr. Broad, Mr. Mozena met Congressman Darrell Issa at the Republican Convention Saturday morning at LAX Marriott at the Schwarzenegger Rally.

Congressman Darrell Issa is a successful high-tech businessman and electronics industry leader who represents California’s 49th Congressional District. He was instrumental in promoting the drive to recall Gov. Gray Davis.

Rep. Issa told Mr. Mozena that he thought Post the Finances was a great idea. He said if the Palestinian Authority, which is in chaos, can put its finances together on a monthly basis, the State of California can certainly post its finances to the Web on a daily basis.

With that endorsement, Mr. Mozena looks forward to Congressman Issa’s support for Post the Finances. Perhaps the Congressman will support the initiative with as much passion as he showed in promoting the recall drive. Both are important examples of how direct democracy can help to restore California’s fiscal sanity.

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From 2:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. Mr. Mozena attended the seminar, "The California Budget Crisis," at the Republican Convention in the Houston Room of the LAX Marriott.

The speakers were Ray Haynes and Kevin McCarthy of the California State
Assembly, and the host was Carl DeMaio, President of Performance Institute and Chairman of California Government Accountability Council (CGAC).

CGAC serves as California's leading voice for government reform and improving the quality of life of every Californian. The Council combats waste, fraud, abuse and inefficiencies in government and promotes greater accountability for results.

Mr. DeMaio spoke about the financial mess California is in because of the budget crisis.

He mentioned that CGAC will have an initiative on the California ballot for November 2004, named "The California Taxpayer's Bill of Rights" The aim of the initiative is to limit tax and fee increases, control the level of state debt, create a budget "rainy day" fund, and impose a spending cap on state government.

In that same vein, Mr. Mozena mentioned his Post the Finances initiative which will enter its third phase in less than two weeks, when the signature-gathering process begins.

Mr. Mozena explained that the initiative called for the posting of all California's finances to the web on a daily basis in the form of simple checkbook register. The posted finances will include easily accessible archives and a search capability.

When Mr. Mozena mentioned his initiative, it drew cheers from the crowd.

At the same time, from the podium, in front of the crowd, Mr. DeMaio enthusiastically told Mr. Mozena, "Now there's an idea I can support. Let's get together for coffee."

After the meeting, Mr. DeMaio and Mr. Mozena confirmed their meeting in two weeks. Mr. Mozena is delighted to have the support of a man who has dedicated his career to public service. As a national leader in government reform, Mr. DeMaio is shaping efforts to hold government programs at all levels accountable for delivering tangible results for the taxpayer.

Mozena Meets Top Schwarzenegger Campaign Officials at Convention. A representative from the Arnold Schwarzenegger campaign requested that Mr. Mozena attend a rally at the California Republican Convention Saturday morning.

While there, Mr. Mozena met two of Arnold's key advisors: co-chair Congressman David Dreier and political advisor Bob Smith, who was former Governor Pete Wilson's chief of staff.

Mr. Mozena spoke with Mr. Smith about the "Post the Finances" initiative. He mentioned that in Arnold’s TV ads he says he will audit the state of California and open up the books.

Mr. Mozena has made sure, with a number of FEDEX'd letters, as well as emails and faxes, that the Schwarzenegger campaign is aware of the "Post the Finances" initiative. Although Mr. Mozena has not yet met personally with Mr. Schwarzenegger during this campaign, the two have met a couple of dozen times in the past, at St. Monica's Catholic Church in Santa Monica and at Hollywood events and premiere parties for films such as "The Last Action Hero," "True Lies," and "Eraser."

Given Mr. Schwarzenegger statements in his ads, it seems, as Mozena commented to Smith, that Mozena and Mr. Schwarzenegger are on the same wavelength on this issue. When asked whether we would be hearing more from Mr. Schwarzenegger on the matter, Mr. Smith replied yes.

If Mr. Smith had attended the seminar on Government Accountability and the Prayer Breakfast, where the mere mention of posting the state’s finances on a daily basis to the Web drew applause, hoots, hollers and cheers, he would likely have impressed on Arnold the timeliness of this idea and its potential popularity with voters.

In addition to meeting those two top Schwarzenegger advisors, Mr. Mozena also met Mr. George "Duf" Sundheim, California Republican Chairman, with whom he briefly discussed the Post the Finances idea.