Plans afoot for nonprofit campaign transparency
December 4, 2012
Sen. Ted Lieu
Two California senators are seeking to require more disclosure of nonprofit campaign contributions in the aftermath of a political campaign marked by secret, out-of-state infusions of huge amounts of cash. (Sacramento Bee)
Democratic Sens. Ted Lieu and Leland Lee said their proposal is a response to an $11 million contribution made by an Arizona nonprofit to support Proposition 32 and oppose Proposition 30.
Disclosure is now required only when a donation to a nonprofit is earmarked specifically for campaign use. Prop. 32, intended to restrict how unions collect dues, was defeated; Prop. 30 was Gov. Jerry Brown’s tax initiative, which passed.
The “Small Business Action Committee” was ordered by a court to divulge its identity and donors just prior to the Nov. 6 election.
“Laundering money through nonprofits in an attempt to avoid transparency is fundamentally undemocratic,” Yee said in a statement. “Our democracy should not be bought and sold in shady backroom deals.”
The bill will require a two-thirds vote of the Legislature.
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