It’s nice to know that a $42 billion state budget shortfall isn’t keeping Governor Schwarzenegger from pumping money back into the economy (even if he’s shopping in the wrong state). Apparently unsatisfied with the lack of décor at the state Capitol, the governor recently adorned the hallway outside his office with a 250-pound bronze statue of a grizzly bear.

The grizzly is the official animal of California, but unfortunately, it has been extinct since 1922. The bear is now immortalized, however, thanks to Schwarzenegger, who purchased the sculpture with his own money and even paid to ship the monster back to Sacramento. Before you criticize him for spending money on art during a recession, think of other state leaders such as State Controller John Chiang who planned to use millions of dollars in state money to refurbish the furniture in his office. I’d say the governor has the right to buy a ginormous animal statue with his own money, or anything else for that matter, if he so chooses.

My favorite part of this story is that Schwarzenegger apparently has a little Becky Bloomwood in him (for all you “Shopaholic” fans out there). Arnie was apparently taking a stroll down the street in Aspen, Colo., while on a fundraising trip when he spotted the figure and decided to buy it. Essentially, he was spending while he was supposed to be raising money. It’s almost laughable, but as long as the he keeps working to fix the budget, I’d like to be one of the first to welcome Mr. Grizzly to Cal-i-fornia.