ASSEMBLYMEMBER LOIS WOLK
8TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
For Immediate Release: April 20, 2004
Contact: Craig Reynolds
Phone: (916) 319-2008

Campaign Reform Bill Wins Committee Approval

Measure would limit contributions to candidate controlled ballot measure committees

Sacramento – The Assembly Elections Committee today approved legislation by Assemblywoman Lois Wolk (D-Davis) to limit contributions made to initiative committees controlled by candidates for state office. Current law limits contributions to candidates but not ballot measure committees. The law is unclear about ballot measure committees controlled by candidates.

“This bill, AB 1980, places campaign contribution limits on candidate controlled ballot measure committees and prohibits candidates from using ballot measure committees they control to support their own candidacy,” said Wolk.

Recently, the Fair Political Practices Commission fined Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante $263,000 for circumventing Proposition 34, the state law which limits contributions to statewide candidates. The FPPC is now considering regulations to tighten loopholes that some believe exist in the law that allow candidates, including Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, to raise large contributions into campaign committees they control for the purpose of supporting ballot measures and initiatives and also benefiting their own candidacy.

“This bill is not aimed at any particular candidate or party,” said Wolk. “Candidates from both parties have abused the current law and will continue to abuse it if we don’t close this loophole now.”

Specifically, the bill:

  • Limits contributions to ballot measure committees controlled by a candidate for state office to no more than $21,200 per election, the same limit as candidates for Governor;
  • Requires the Fair Political Practices Commission to adjust this limit biannually in accordance with the Consumer Price Index; and
  • Prohibits a candidate controlled committee from making expenditures in support of the controlling candidate or in opposition to a candidate for the same elective office.

    The bill, which passed on a 4-3 vote, is supported by California Common Cause and now goes to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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    Assemblymember.Wolk@assembly.ca.gov