Posted on 05/26/2005 7:03:25 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO (AP) - The Assembly passed legislation Thursday that would curb Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's fundraising by putting a $5,600 limit on donations to ballot measure committees controlled by candidates or officeholders.
The bill was designed to close a loophole in a voter-approved campaign finance law that Schwarzenegger has used to raise tens of millions of dollars to support his agenda at the ballot box.
"This loophole is bad public policy. It undermines public trust," said Assemblywoman Lois Wolk, D-Davis, sponsor of the bill.
Wolk's bill deals with contributions made to committees such as Schwarzenegger's California Recovery Team, which don't face limits.
The bill would strengthen regulations the Fair Political Practices Commission adopted last year setting limits similar to Proposition 34 of 2000, which restricted contributions to candidates' election committees.
Those limits are $22,300 for gubernatorial candidates, $5,600 for other statewide candidates and $3,300 for legislative candidates.
A Sacramento County Superior Court judge struck down limits to ballot committees in March, ruling that it unfairly forced candidates to surrender their interest in the measure or accept a fundraising disadvantage to opponents who can accept unlimited donations.
The FPPC has appealed that decision.
Wolk's bill would modify the FPPC rule by setting a uniform $5,600 limit regardless of the office held or sought by the person controlling the ballot measure committee. Democrats have said the bill attempts to remove the appearance of corruption created by unlimited donations and extends the wishes of voters who capped candidate donations.
Schwarzenegger, who used the loophole to raise a record $26 million last year, wants to raise $50 million more this year to promote a slate of ballot measures he plans to put before voters in a special election in November. On Thursday, Schwarzenegger's chief fundraiser said the governor had raised between $2 million and $3 million for a possible special election during a weekend trip to Miami, Illinois and Texas.
The measure was sent to the Senate on a 43-29 vote Thursday.
Schwarzenegger has not taken a position on the bill, a spokesman said. But his lawsuit indicates his opposition to the measure. If he does sign the bill, it still would need the approval of voters.
A similar version of the bill was defeated last week, but lawmakers revived it by changing it to a measure that must be approved by voters. By making that change, the bill's passage required only a majority vote instead of two-thirds approval.
Republicans in the Assembly said the bill would unfairly limit contributions on one side of the debate.
"This is an infringement of the First Amendment," said Assemblyman Keith Richman, R-Chatsworth.
But Democrats argued the loophole should be closed.
"You want to talk about democracy, don't let all the people with all the money make all the decisions," said Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, D-Los Angeles.
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On the Net:
Read the bill, AB709, at: www.assembly.ca.gov
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
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