California Considers Tough Campaign-Finance Rules

Wall Street Journal ^ | October 11, 2015 | ALEJANDRO LAZO

[reaganaut1]

California is considering some of the nation’s strictest campaign-finance rules, aimed at keeping candidates from coordinating with groups able to raise unlimited amounts of money on their behalf.

The state’s Fair Political Practices Commission is scheduled to vote on the proposals Thursday. The rules would apply to statewide and local elections.

The vote comes as outside groups are playing a central role in national campaigns since the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision in 2010. That ruling led to the growth of super PACs, which can raise and spend unlimited amounts in support of candidates, or their opponents, but cannot legally coordinate with candidate campaigns.

Critics of the ruling say campaigns are finding ways around the ban by hiring the same consultants, publicizing campaign strategies and having candidates, or presumptive candidates, fundraise on behalf of the super PACs.

Separately, over the weekend, Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill that makes California the second state after Oregon to automatically register eligible voters at the state Department of Motor Vehicles. Eligible voters will be registered automatically with the state’s secretary of state when they apply for, or renew, a driver’s license, or when they update their addresses.

Political spending by outside groups on statewide and local elections totaled more than $80.6 million in California’s 2014 election cycle, according to MapLight, a nonpartisan, nonprofit group that tracks money in politics. California officials worry that statewide and local campaigns could increasingly work with outside groups as the 2016 election cycle kicks into gear.

“In the last couple years there has definitely been a lot of coordination,” said Galena West, the commission’s chief of enforcement. But “proving these cases is really difficult.”

[reaganaut1]

California is almost a 1-party state, and the Rats want to keep it that way.

[Iron Munro]

[RGF]

You’ve got to make it easier for the public sector unions to maintain control, no “outsider” money. But unions are just plain old advocates, a good thing.

And let’s register folks at the DMV so when they give licenses to illegals they can also register to vote. Wouldn’t want them to have to take any extra steps now would we?

[Buckeye McFrog]

I am astonished at how many on our side have done a 180 on this issue and now agree with the Left. I guess year after year after year of watching the Chamber of Commerce buy off the guys we elected is having a cumulative effect.

[Parley Baer]

Here is my view. California is not in the process of letting illegals have driver licenses. Those same illegals will be voting in the California elections.

I think the legislation is primarily aimed at Republicans to further keep the dimoKKKRATS in power.