Reply #1: Der Gropenfuherer stands behind Meathead

[Ian David]

LOS ANGELES - Defying Senate Republicans' wishes, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday said he would not replace director Rob Reiner from the chairmanship of the state agency First 5 California.

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Reiner has said he recused himself from any decisions about the ad campaign. But the Joint Legislature Audit Committee recently voted to audit the expenditures and First 5 California.

Reiner has been chairman of the First 5 commission since its creation in 1999. His four-year term has expired, but he continued in the job because Schwarzenegger had not named a replacement.

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Proposition 82 would raise taxes on wealthy Californians to pay for preschool for all of California's 4-year-olds.