Bill to Gut Local Campaign Finance Laws Blasted by League of Women Voters, Common Cause, and California Clean Money Campaign

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Ned Wigglesworth
Policy Advocate
California Common Cause

The California state legislature stands poised to approve a bill that would wrest control of local elections from 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.

Jacqueline Jacobberger, President of the League of Women Voters of California says: “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. 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.”

The California Clean Money Campaign, California Common Cause, and League of Women Voters of California oppose AB 1430 for the following reasons: