Posted on 02/16/2005 5:52:16 AM PST by Jason1
http://www.dailybulletin.com/Stories/0,1413,203~21481~2713534,00.html
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Article Published: Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 8:28:22 PM PST
'Save Our License' may face state probe
By SARA A. CARTER, STAFF WRITER
The Secretary of State's Political Reform Division has ordered Save Our License, a group opposed to driver's licenses for illegal immigrants, to refile all its committee documents and submit all its campaign finance data.
Meanwhile, a group representing Latino and church groups across the nation this week filed a formal complaint with the state Fair Political Practices Commission, saying Save Our License willfully violated campaign finance laws.
The state order and FPPC complaint follow last week's discovery by the Daily Bulletin that the Save Our License Committee -- despite reportedly raising more than $400,000 -- has not turned in a single campaign finance document since its inception in summer 2003.
The group might now be subject to up to $10,000 in fines, and could face a FPPC investigation.
"We have not been notified that we are under investigation," said Mike Spence, one of the founders of Save Our License. "So big deal. So what if a left-wing group is trying to come after us? Someday they may make a mistake on their filing, and we'll return the favor."
Save Our License was formed to repeal a state law granting driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants. The law eventually was repealed by the Legislature at the urging of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who vetoed a second bill to grant undocumented immigrants driver's licenses in September 2004.
The group now is in the midst of a petition-signature campaign to put a driver's license initiative to a statewide vote.
Since Save Our License opposes a specific subject, its original filing as a general purpose committee is not valid, said Harvey Tsuboi, a senior analyst with the Secretary of State's Political Reform Division.
"I asked them to amend their committee designation from general purpose to primarily formed (ballot measure) committee," Tsuboi said. "They need to turn in their campaign finance reports and refile their original statement of organization."
Spence, president of the West Covina Unified School District board and president of the California Republican Assembly, claims an "oversight" led to Save Our License not filing appropriately with the state, and that the group's treasurer, John Fugatt, is to blame.
State law requires that proponents of ballot measures sign their original statement of organization under penalty of perjury, according to officials at the secretary of state's office. Save Our License was founded by Spence, retired state Sen. Richard Mountjoy, activist Victor Valenzuela, Assemblyman Mark Wyland, R-San Diego, and Jeff Evans.
"There are five proponents in our group. Does the state expect us all to sign it?" Spence said, referring to the statement of organization the group must refile.
Spence said he was not aware he or any of his proponents had to sign any of the original campaign documents. But the state's office contacted the committee, asking for Spence's signature, Fugatt said.
"It's not certain whether Spence needs to sign as a proponent or not, because other proponents were involved in creating this committee," Fugatt said. "We're still looking into that."
Beyond the original campaign filings, the state is ordering the group to file further documentation about its ballot measure for the 2006 general election, Tsuboi said. State officials also want the group to immediately turn over all of its campaign finance records.
Save Our License plans to turn over all campaign finance documents by the end of next week, Fugatt said. "We made a mistake here, and we're trying to rectify the problem."
Spence, who led the campaign to recall Secretary of State Kevin Shelley for misuse of federal tax dollars, illegal campaign contributions and for seeking to sabotage his Save Our License campaign, might be facing an investigation himself.
On Monday, the Greenlining Institute, a Democratic activist organization based in Berkeley, filed a complaint with the Fair Political Practices Commission, demanding that Save Our License receive the maximum fine from the state -- more than $10,000. The coalition of minority churches and business associations also urged the state to throw out all signatures collected by the group --about 400,000 to date, according to Save Our License -- because financial documents have not been filed.
Save Our License has missed at least three filing deadlines, according to the state: Oct. 3 to Dec. 31, 2003; Jan. 1 to June 30, 2004; and July 1 to Dec. 31, 2004.
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Sara A. Carter can be reached by e-mail sara.carter@dailybulletin.com or by phone at (909) 483-8552.
My understanding is they're short on petition signers.
But we keep plowing forward...
And with the grace of God, we'll get this on the ballot yet!
Semper Fi,
Kelly
We are in this for the long haul!
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