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Friday, January 16, 2009
Sacramento Bee
article highlights ballot measure spending
abuses examined in CPA
report
Washington, D.C. -- An
article in the Sacramento Bee yesterday
highlighted the abuses of candidate-controlled
ballot measure committees that were the focus
of the Center for Political Accountability's
recent Taking Initiative report. Released last
month, the report examined how the committees
were used to evade campaign contribution and
spending limits in California and the risks
that ballot measure contributions posed to
companies. The CPA is pressing companies to
disclose and require board oversight of this
and other political spending with corporate
funds.
The article, in the paper's
January 15, 2008 issue, reported that "Ballot
measure committees have become the latest tool
used by state politicians to raise big money.
Unhindered by donation limits, the checks can
reach tens or hundreds of thousands of
dollars."
Written by Shane Goldmacher, the story quoted Russ Johnson, chairman of the California Fair Political Practices Commission, as calling the committees "open-ended slush funds."
The paper
said that the FPPC "will consider new rules to
strengthen state laws governing how politicians
can raise and spend money for ballot measures."
The Taking Initiative report is available at http://www.politicalaccountability.net/index.php?ht=a/GetDocumentAction/i/1424.
The press
release is available at http://www.politicalaccountability.net/index.php?ht=display/ArticleDetails/i/1426/pid/188.
According to the article,
"Assembly Speaker Karen Bass used hers to fund
voter registration efforts to elect more
Democrats. Former Senate President Pro Tem Don
Perata used his to bolster his legal defense
fund. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger used his to
pay for his political operation for the last
two years."
Reforms being considered by the
commission include:
---
All campaign expenditures, beyond the general
upkeep of the PAC, must be tagged
for the particular ballot measure
they are for or against.
--- If a specific measure does not
yet exist, the account must include a brief
description of the potential measure the
spending is for.
--- Ballot
committees controlled by politicians must
identify the elected official in the name of
the committee.
CPA executive director Bruce
Freed praised the FPPC's efforts but noted that
even if the reforms are instituted that they
will not protect companies and shareholders.
"The reforms are necessary but not
sufficient. Companies will still be able
to circumvent contribution limitations by
routing their money through
candidate-controlled ballot
committees. Companies themselves must take
steps to insulate themselves from the pressure
to contribute that the politicians who create
these committees will put them under."
Following is a link to the
article: http://www.politicalaccountability.net/index
php?ht=display/ArticleDetails/i/1648/pid/188.
php?ht=display/ArticleDetails/i/1648/pid/188.
Founded in November 2003, the
CPA is a non-profit, non-partisan advocacy
group that is leading a shareholder effort to
bring transparency and accountability to
corporate political spending.
As of January 2009, 52 leading companies, including 35 in the S&P 100, have agreed to disclose and require board oversight of soft money contributions and payments to trade associations and other tax exempt organizations that are used for political purposes. The companies are listed on the CPA website.
Website: http://www.politicalaccountability.net
As of January 2009, 52 leading companies, including 35 in the S&P 100, have agreed to disclose and require board oversight of soft money contributions and payments to trade associations and other tax exempt organizations that are used for political purposes. The companies are listed on the CPA website.
Website: http://www.politicalaccountability.net
*******
Press Contact: Bruce Freed,
CPA Executive Director, 301-233-3621, bffreed@politicalaccountability.net