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New campaign disclosure rules sought for budget season

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Lawmakers would have to immediately disclose money raised during peak legislative deadlines under a measure approved by the state Senate on Monday.

The bill is an effort to increase fundraising transparency as the Legislature makes key budget decisions and end-of-session legislative votes. Those deadlines, not coincidentally, also happen to be peak fundraising times for lawmakers.

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The Senate approved a measure that requires disclosure of contributions of at least $1,000 within 24 hours when they are made between the date in May when the finance director issues a revised revenue estimate and the date when a budget is adopted for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

The new disclosure requirements, approved on a 29-3 vote and sent to the Assembly, also would apply to the 15 days before the end of the legislative session and, for the governor, during the 30 days after adjournment of the Legislature when he signs or vetoes the bulk of bills.

The measure follows a report by the state Fair Political Practices Commission that found more than 25% of all fundraisers held and more than 25% of all money solicited in Sacramento during 2009 occurred in the final three weeks of the legislative session.

Sen. Roy Ashburn (R-Bakersfield) said he wrote SB 1118 ‘with an eye toward full disclosure and letting the sunshine in.’

-- Patrick McGreevy

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