A tax-exempt Arizona nonprofit funneled $11 million into California through a series of money transfers -- money laundering, essentially. The donors wanted to defeat Proposition 30, which raised taxes, and pass Proposition 32, which would have curbed unions' political influence. After the good-government group Common Cause complained, Ravel's FPPC sued the immediate source of the funds, Americans for Responsible Leadership, to learn its donors' identity. The case culminated last week with $1 million in civil penalties and an order to pay the state $15 million, the amount of the contribution in this case and one other. But Ravel couldn't force disclosure of the original donors. It's only because of sloppy redacting that we know Charles Schwab, Eli Broad and Sheldon Adelson were among them.
Mercury News editorial: Ravel's leadership helped shine light on dark money - San Jose Mercury News
