$300 million price tag on initiative battles - Unions, drug firms biggest spenders

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 11/2/5 | John Wildermuth

[SmithL]

Thirty contributors have bankrolled nearly two-thirds of the estimated $300 million that will be spent on Tuesday's special election.

The high rollers include unions, drug companies, business groups and individuals that have pumped $1 million apiece or more -- often much more -- into the initiative battle called by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Led by the $56.6 million spent by the California Teachers Association, these contributors have raised more than $189 million for an off-year election no one expected.

"It's an unprecedented amount of money that violates the intent of all the campaign spending laws," said Joe Cerrell, a longtime Democratic consultant. "It's just crazy."

The combined spending of Democratic Gov. Gray Davis and Republican challenger Bill Simon in the 2002 gubernatorial election was about $98 million.

But California campaign finance laws set limits for candidates, not for ballot measures, which is why Schwarzenegger can put in $7.25 million of his own money to back propositions 74, 75, 76 and 77, and unions can spend $100 million to fight them.

[newzjunkey]

Biggest donors in 2005: (pro Prop 78 drug companies excluded)

-- California Teachers Association (Oppose Props. 74, 75, 76, 77): $56.6 million

-- California State Council of Service Employees (Oppose Props. 74, 75, 76, 77): $16.1 million

-- Association of California School Administrators (Oppose Props. 74, 75, 76, 77): $1 million

-- SEIU Local 1000 (Oppose Props. 74, 75, 76, 77): $4.1 million

-- California Federation of Teachers (Oppose Props. 74, 75, 76, 77): $3.6 million

-- California Correctional Peace Officers Association (Oppose Props. 74, 75, 76, 77): $3.5 million

-- PACE of California School Employees (Oppose Props 74, 75, 76, 77): $2.1 million

-- California Professional Firefighters (Oppose Props 74, 75, 76, 77): $1.3 million

($88.3 million)

-- Stephen Bing, producer (Oppose Prop. 77): $4.5 million

-- Voter Registration and Education Fund (Oppose Prop. 77): $1.1 million

-- Constellation Energy Group (Oppose Prop. 80): $1.3 million

($6.9 million)

-- Arnold Schwarzenegger (Support Props. 74, 75, 76, 77): $7.25 million

-- William Robinson, former DHL owner (Support Props. 74, 75, 76, 77): $3.75 million

-- Alex Spanos, Stockton developer (Support Props. 74, 75, 76, 77): $3.25 million

-- Jerry Perenchio, Univision CEO (Support Props 74, 75, 76, 77): $3 million

-- California Chamber of Commerce (Support Props 74, 75, 76, 77): $1.8 million

-- Wal-Mart Stores and family (Support Props. 74, 75, 76, 77): $1 million

($20.1 million)

-- Small Business Action Committee (Support Prop. 76): $1 million

-- Steve Poizner, Silicon Valley executive (Support Prop. 77): $1.25 million

[newzjunkey]

If anyone ever needed to see why "Paycheck protection" is NECESSARY, they only need to see this article.

The ability of union bandits to garnish wages unchecked to proselytize their extreme agendas is corruptive and corrosive to the body politic.