HOLLYWOOD - Arnold Schwarzenegger has come under fire, following the discovery he is beingpaid $1 million a year as a consultant to a company that publishes
fitness magazines.
The payments, revealed July 13 in filings at the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission, are from American Media Operations, a subsidiary of
the company that publishes magazines including Flex and Muscle & Fitness.
Critics say the contract is a conflict of interest because California
Governor Schwarzenegger's pay comes from advertising revenue and the magazines
often feature advertisements about dietary supplements.
Last year, Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill that would have imposed
government regulations on the dietary supplement industry.
Bill sponsor Senator Jackie Speier is calling on Schwarzenegger to cut off
all ties with the magazines, adding, "Whether it is an actual conflict or not,
it certainly gives the appearance of being a conflict."
Schwarzenegger's spokeswoman Margita Thompson insists the deal with the
magazines does not represent a conflict of interest.
Schwarzenegger's consulting contract calls for him to receive one per cent of
the magazines' advertising revenue each year for five years--a sum that could
total $8 million.
The actor-turned-governor announced last year that he had agreed to serve as
executive editor for Muscle & Fitness and Flex. He writes monthly columns for
both, but his salary for those jobs has not been revealed.
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