Schwarzenegger ad targets gerrymandering; USC raises concerns

Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who championed the creation of an independent commission to draw California's congressional districts, returned to state voters' TV sets on Tuesday in a new ad opposing a November ballot measure by state Democrats to boost their party's ranks in Congress.

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JULIANA YAMADA Los Angeles Times USC INTERIM President Beong-Soo Kim speaks with former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Sept. 15.

A committee opposing Proposition 50, which would replace districts drawn by an independent commission with ones crafted by partisans, plans to spend $1 million per day airing the ad statewide. Schwarzenegger describes the ballot measure as one that does not favor voters but is in the interest of entrenched politicians.

"That's what they want to do, is take us backwards. This is why it is important for you to vote no on Proposition 50," the Hollywood celebrity and former governor says in the ad, which was filmed last week when he spoke to USC students. "The Constitution does not start with 'We, the politicians.' It starts with 'We, the people.' ... Democracy — we've got to protect it, and we've got to go and fight for it."

A USC official sent a letter to the campaign's lawyer saying the university had not given permission for a camera crew to film Schwarzenegger's remarks for an ad.