Lea este artículo en español. From the editor: A change was made to this story after publication. Please see the explanation at the end of the story.
At the very beginning, I said I was going to make them do this in full view of the public. They’re doing it, and I am making it fully public.Source: No wonder good people don’t run for office in California
Tapping a political ally, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday appointed Richard Miadich as chairman of the state Fair Political Practices Commission, which enforces campaign finance and lobbying laws in California.Source: Newsom picks cannabis legalization coauthor to head campaign watchdog agency
California’s campaign watchdog agency is sounding an alarm that local prosecutors have failed to file charges in dozens of cases where officials have allegedly used public funds for political purposes.Source: California watchdog agency says it needs more power to go after misuse of public funds
A commission charged with enforcing California’s campaign violations in an election year has spent its time publicly bickering, altering the agency’s power structure and adjusting its own pay.Source: It’s an election year, and California’s campaign watchdogs are busy fighting among themselves
The chief of California's campaign watchdog agency abruptly quit Tuesday -- just a week before the state's June 5 primaries. The departure of Jodi Remke, who in 2014 was appointed by Democratic Gov.Source: California's top campaign watchdog quits week before primary elections
At the request of Gov. Jerry Brown, the state’s political watchdog panel on Thursday delayed action on a controversial plan that could transfer power from its full-time chairwoman to give other, part-time commissioners a greater say in key decisions.Source: California campaign watchdog panel divided over proposed dramatic oversight changes
Elected state officials in California ask special interests to donate millions of dollars annually to their favorite charities. Now residents can get a clearer picture of who is asking, who is giving and who is getting the money.Source: New site shows which California elected officials ask special interests to donate to their favored charities
Elected state officials in California ask special interests to donate millions of dollars annually to their favorite charities. Now residents can get a clearer picture of who is asking, who is giving and who is getting the money.Source: New site shows which California elected officials ask special interests to donate to their favored charities
As the second half of an examination of spending in the 2010 gubernatorial race, the Fair Political Practices Commission, California's campaign finance watchdog, today posted information tracking the Independent Expenditures (IEs) spent on behalf of gubernatorial candidates Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman for the 2010 general election contest.
"Earlier this month we released a report outlining the impact of self-funded candidates on California's campaigns for governor," said FPPC Chairman Dan Schnur. "Now we are looking at the impact Independent Expenditures have had on this year's election. While Whitman's personal spending has provided her campaign with a huge boost, it's clear that Brown's allies have kept the race competitive through their spending on his behalf."
The Commission began tracking IE spending for the gubernatorial general election on June 9, 2010. Since then, 15 committees comprised around unions, membership organizations, social issues and other associations have spent a combined $12,495,794 in efforts to assist Brown in his attempt to win the 2010 gubernatorial general election. Some have chosen to spend their money specifically supporting Brown or opposing Whitman, while others have done both. California Working Families for Jerry Brown 2010, spent over $6.5 million supporting Brown-more than any other committee-while ASFCME AFL-CIO Supporting Jerry Brown for Governor spent $2 million opposing Whitman. Committees designated as "supporting" Brown spent nearly a combined $10.120 million, while those created to "oppose" Whitman, together, spent more than $2.376 million. Total gubernatorial IE spending for the 2010 primary and general elections has so far pushed past $13.188 million.
To date, no independent expenditures have been made supporting Whitman, or opposing Brown.
Last month's FPPC report, Breaking the Bank, identified Meg Whitman as number two of the top-six self-funded candidates since the 1978 gubernatorial primary election, for spending $99,866,607 in the 2010 Republican primary election where she received a total of 1,529,534 votes, representing a cost of $65.29 per vote.
While there are limits on the amount of contributions candidates can receive from a single source, there are no limits on the amount candidates can personally contribute to their campaign or on how much can be spent on independent expenditures. However, such expenditures must be made completely "independent" of the candidate; no coordination can take place between the candidate, or their campaign, and the entity that makes the independent expenditures.
Groups that make independent expenditures of $10,000 or more, as well as the daily and cumulative totals of independent expenditures made to support or oppose Brown or Whitman are listed on the Commission's website at www.fppc.ca.gov.
Capitol Alert: Dan Schnur tapped as Fair Political Practices Commission chair
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has appointed Dan Schnur as chairman of the Fair Political Practices Commission.
According to new numbers released by California State Secretary Debra Bowen, the campaigns for the ballot measures raised more than $65 million by May 27.
Supporters of Proposition 14, the Open Primaries measure, reported raising $4,536,050 while opponents of Proposition 14 reported raising $208,550.
Both Parties' Favorable Ratings Near Record Lows
Americans' favorable ratings of the Democratic and Republican parties are near record lows for each. The current 36% favorable score for the Republican Party is five percentage points above the low established in December 1998 as the U.S. House of Representatives voted to impeach President Clinton. The Democratic Party's 43% is two points higher than its record low measured in March.
The Associated Press: Nevada Democrats ask FEC for Lowden probe
Democrats also pointed to reports that show Lowden had purchased more television ads that would put her spending above primary-flagged donations alone — despite another $100,000 from Lowden's personal account last week.
Mass. House Reconsiders Awarding Of State’s Electoral Votes | WBUR
The National Popular Vote bill would give Massachusetts’ electoral votes to the candidate who wins the nation’s popular vote.
Money intended to help candidates often ends up funding PACs themselves
Instead, the PACs spend the bulk of their money funding their own operations, spending sizeable sums on fundraisers that also offer sweet perquisites for members and their aides.
The hidden zinger in Prop. 14 | San Francisco Bay Guardian
Proposition 14, a June 8 ballot measure, would mandate that all candidates for Congress and state office appear on the same June ballot, and that all voters use that ballot. Only the two candidates who got the highest vote totals could run in November. Even write-ins would be banned in November for Congress and state offices.
Utah Supreme Court hears electronic signatures case | Deseret News
The Associated Press: About 2,300 running for Congress, most in decades
Discontent with incumbents and anti-Washington anger are adding up to a potentially record-breaking crowd of congressional challengers this election year.More than 2,300 people are running for 471 House and Senate seats in the midterms. It's the highest number of candidates in at least 35 years, according to data provided to The Associated Press by the Federal Election Commission, which began tracking candidates in 1975.
George Soros, a resident of New York, failed to timely disclose a $350,000 late contribution in a late contribution report in October 2004. He also failed to timely file a semi-annual campaign statement for the reporting period January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2004. $8,000 fine.
SkepticsEye 2.0: Called Out by da Brennan Skolarz!
What I meant to say - and what I think I said, was that people with concerns about the quality of governance, who had been railing against earmarks, corporate influence, voter disengagement, etc. etc., might reflect on whether those reflected a problem with money or a problem with incumbency.
The Hill Blog» Blog Archive » The Incumbency Problem Has Everything to do with Money
As Court watchers eagerly await the latest decision on campaign finance in a case called Citizens United, new research from the Brennan Center indicates that the Roberts’ Court’s first campaign finance decision three years ago, Randall v. Sorrell, suffered from a key empirical flaw. In that case, the Court wrongly assumed that low contribution limits hurt challengers and entrenched incumbents.
The Associated Press: Keyes, priest arrested at Notre Dame protest
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Former Republican presidential hopeful Alan Keyes, a Roman Catholic priest and 19 others were arrested Friday after marching onto the University of Notre Dame campus to protest President Barack Obama's planned commencement speech.
How to elect the president: A national debate
Shortly after the election last November, a San Diego Union-Tribune editorial called for a national dialogue on whether the system decided by the Founding Fathers to elect the American president through an electoral college -- rather than by direct popular vote of the people -- should be retained, reformed, or abolished altogether.
California Bill Advances, Would Inform Independent Voters of their Rights
On May 14, the California Assembly Appropriations Committee passed AB 909. It had previously passed the Assembly Elections Committee. It provides that at the polls on primary election day, elections officials must inform independent voters that they are free to choose the primary ballot of any party that has agreed to let independent voters vote in its primaries.
California Releases New Registration Data
On May 15, California Secretary of State Debra Bowen released updated voter registration data for the special statewide election of May 19. Compared to the last registration tally of March 20, these parties gained a slightly larger share of the registration: Democratic, American Independent, Libertarian, and Reform. Also the percentage of independents increased. The Reform Party is not ballot-qualified in California but the state keeps track of its registration tally. Ballot-qualified parties that slipped slightly in percentage of registered voters since the last tally are Republican, Green, and Peace & Freedom.
California Will Hold 3-Party U.S. House Race on July 14
On July 14, California will fill the vacant U.S. House seat, 32nd district. The three ballot-listed candidates will be Democrat Judy Chu, Republican Betty Chu, and Libertarian Christopher Agrella.
California elected officials' pay will be cut 18% - Los Angeles Times
California, like most states, charges filing fees for candidates. The California fee is 2% of the annual salary for statewide office, and 1% for U.S. House and state legislature. On May 20, the state commission that sets salaries for partisan elected officials lowered those salaries by 18%, effective with the 2010 election. See this article. Current legislative pay for state legislators is $116,208, so the filing fee in 2008 was $1,162. However, in 2010 the salary will be $95,291, so the fee will be $952.
According to a report released by WorldNetDaily, the news site plans to erect billboards nationwide questioning the eligibility of Barack Obama for office.
Pew Research Center Releases Poll on Partisan Identification
On May 21, the Pew Research Center released this public opinion poll on political values. It is an extensive survey, in twelve sections, and used a sample of 3,013 respondents. Among many other findings, the poll shows that 39% of U.S. residents identify themselves as independents, 33% as Democrats, 22% as Republicans, and 6% no opinion or “other”.
Campaign Finance Disclosure and the Legislative Process by Scott Noveck
This Article analyzes an underappreciated and oft-overlooked method of campaign finance regulation, the use of reporting and disclosure requirements. The Article demonstrates that both sides of the campaign finance debate have failed to recognize the full range of possible disclosure schemes, and it argues that a particular set of disclosure requirements can have a much more dramatic effect on the legislative process than has previously been recognized. Moreover, I show that a carefully crafted disclosure scheme can offer an effective solution to the problem of quid pro quo corruption (i.e., political bribery) and can overcome the serious constitutional concerns about retaliation that have been raised both by the Supreme Court and by several scholars.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Fair Political Practices
Commission, under the authority vested in it by Section 83112 of the
Government Code, proposes to adopt, amend, or repeal regulations in Title 2,
Division 6 of the California Code of Regulations. The Fair Political
Practices Commission will consider the proposed regulation at a public
hearing on or after June 18, 2009 at the offices of the Fair Political
Practices Commission, 428 J Street, Suite 800, Sacramento, California,
commencing at approximately 10:00 a.m. Written comments must be received at
the Commission offices no later than 5:00 PM on June 16, 2009.
BACKGROUND/OVERVIEW:
Government Code Section 84506.6 was added to the Political
Reform Act by Stats. 2007, Ch. 495, to require that an advertisement
supporting or opposing a candidate that is paid for by an independent
expenditure include a statement that it was not authorized by a candidate or
committee controlled by a candidate. Title 2, Section 18450.4 implements a
series of related advertising disclosure statutes, but has not yet been
amended to reference this newly-enacted statute. In addition, questions
from the public indicate a need to more fully illustrate the term "over size
print media" in subdivision (e)(4) of the current regulation.
REGULATORY ACTION:
Adopt 2 Cal. Code Regs. Section 18450.4:
The proposed amendment implements Government Code Section
84506.5 by specifying that the statute is subject to the advertising
disclosure rules stated at 2 Cal. Code Regs. Section 18450.4. The
regulation is also amended to include campaign "yard signs" as an example of
"over size print media" within the regulation's definition of this term.
