Schwarzenegger Urges Court To Allow Building Sale

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has made a last-minute plea to the California Supreme Court to allow the sale of state office buildings to proceed.

Administration attorneys have filed an emergency petition asking the high court to lift a stay by Thursday.

The petition, filed Monday, says "three disgruntled taxpayers" could thwart the will of the Legislature and deny the state $1.2 billion in revenue. It warned that unless the state can close escrow before the end of the year, "the sale may well disappear forever."

An appeals court has stalled the sale of 24 state buildings to private investors while it reviews the deal.

Several independent analyses say the sale will end up costing taxpayers more money in the long run.

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