Schwarzenegger's chief of staff, Susan Kennedy, sent a memo to the governor's aides in August explaining that by taking gifts, even if the law allows it, they could create a public perception that they have been compromised.

when in doubt … pay for the item yourself kennedy wrote.

In a separate letter to Schwarzenegger's staff, his legal counsel, Andrea Hoch, said aides could not attend any of the governor's campaign fundraising events unless they paid for their food and drink.

But the Spartan ethic comes with loopholes. Kennedy is scheduled to join lawmakers and state officials on a 12-day trip to South America next month that is sponsored by a tax-exempt group financed partly by energy companies and other businesses that lobby in Sacramento.

The visitors plan to stay at a hotel in Buenos Aires that is rated by one travel guide as "the most exclusive" in the city. A spokesman for Schwarzenegger said the trip doesn't violate the gift policy because Kennedy will deliver a speech as the governor's representative.
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The trip's purpose is to study technologies aimed at reducing global warming, said Patrick Mason, president of the foundation. He would not reveal who is going, citing security concerns.

He sent an e-mail to participants this week asking that they not speak to The Times about the trip. The e-mail, which was obtained by the newspaper, was sent to officials at Chevron, Southern California Edison, the environmental group the National Resources Defense Council, and to some Schwarzenegger administration officials, among others.

Two companies that said they were planning to attend maintain a lobbying presence in Sacramento: Sempra Energy and the cable giant Comcast. Sempra owns San Diego Gas & Electric Co. and Southern California Gas Co., both of which are regulated by the state Public Utilities Commission.

PUC Executive Director Steve Larson will be among the guests on the trip.

Sempra pays $30,000 a year in dues to the Foundation on the Environment and Economy. The firm is going because Sempra believes that it is important to "provide policymakers and elected officials some background that is helpful in making informed decisions," said company spokesman Art Larson (no relation to Steve).

Watchdog groups said the South America trip gives lobbyists extraordinary access to government officials — access that others don't get. They also said that if state officials think the trip is important and justified, taxpayers should pay for it.