LWV Issues Joint Statement Opposing AB 1430

The California state legislature stands poised to approve a bill that would wrest control of local elections from many cities and counties and vitiate local laws designed to check the financial influence of special interests in local elections. The bill, AB 1430, would prohibit local jurisdictions from regulating the source and amount of money that political parties can use to campaign for candidates - even though the state legislature does the exact same thing for state elections.

The signatories to this statement oppose AB 1430 for the following reasons:

1.     AB 1430 would prevent many cities and counties from enacting any laws that would restrict the funneling of large contributions through political parties to benefit candidates - even when the candidate, party, and donor coordinate the payment and expenditure. Without such safeguards, local contribution limits would be rendered meaningless. Contribution limits are a fundamental and constitutional means that many cities and counties can and do use to prevent corruption and the appearance of corruption in their elections. AB 1430 would create an enormous loophole in these laws, allowing special interest groups to use large campaign contributions to dominate city elections and exert undue influence over city officials.

2.     The right of many cities and counties to regulate their own elections is enshrined in the state constitution and Political Reform Act. AB 1430 threatens to abridge these rights, substituting the view of the state legislature for that of voters and local officials as to what campaign finance laws best meet the needs of local jurisdictions. This is why the ethics commissions of San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco all either oppose or have asked their city council to oppose AB 1430, and the San Diego Union Tribune and Los Angeles Times have editorialized against the bill as well.

“This bill is an end run around local campaign finance laws and a gift to special interests who want to dominate local elections with big contributions,” said Janis R. Hirohama, president of the League of Women Voters of California. “A move like this will only feed voters’ cynicism about the legislature, undermining the appreciation the public has had for the recent accomplishments of their elected representatives. It seems counter to the spirit of the political reforms that legislators are considering this year.”

“What exactly is the problem this bill is intended to address?” asked Ned Wigglesworth, Policy Advocate for California Common Cause. “The state legislature has passed the exact same law which they would prohibit cities and counties from adopting and enforcing with this bill. If this is truly about ‘free speech’, how come the legislature isn’t holding itself to the same standard?”

“AB 1430 is a stealth attack on our representative form of government, said Susan Lerner, Executive Director of California Clean Money Campaign. “Our system is based on the idea that elected representatives at each level of government understand their local conditions and adopt laws that are most responsive to the needs of their constituents. AB 1430 flies in the face of this system by undercutting local control of elections.”

"By wiping out certain local contribution limits, this bill would further empower big donors who use their money to determine local elections," said Steve Blackledge, legislative director for CALPIRG. "It's a good bill for the fat cats but troublesome to say the least for everyone else."

AB 1430 has passed the Assembly and is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Elections Committee on July 10. The signatories to this statement are urging the members of the Committee to vote against this bill.

Kathay Feng, Executive Director Ned Wigglesworth, Policy Advocate California Common Cause	Dorothy Leonard, Chair Stacey Fulhorst, Executive Director San Diego City Ethics Commission
Janis R. Hirohama, President  League of Women Voters of CA	Councilmember Sam Liccardo City of San Jose
Susan Lerner, Executive Director  California Clean Money Campaign	Councilmember Donna Frye City of San Diego
Steve Blackledge, Legislative Director CALPIRG	John Yuasa, Senior Program Manager Greenlining Institute

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Other resources:
San Diego Union Tribune -- No on AB 1430 Editorial (6/22): <http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070622/news_lz1ed22bottom.html>
Los Angeles Times -- No on AB 1430 (6/19): <http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-ed-campaign19jun19,0,3578166.story?coll=la-opinion-leftrail>

Other Opposition:
Los Angeles City Ethics Commission
San Francisco Ethics Commission - (recommended the SF Board of Supervisors oppose)
Sacramento City Councilmember Steve Cohn