CA: Shell Games Hide Sources of Donations

LA Times ^ | 10/23/05 | Dan Morain

[NormsRevenge]

SACRAMENTO — When Californians vote Nov. 8 after what may turn out to be the costliest initiative battles in state history, they won't fully know who was behind the campaigns: Politicians and their backers are using holes in state law that help hide the source of donations.

Despite restrictions implemented in California in recent years, political money is being raised and spent with scant public disclosure by the tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars.

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There won't be full accountings for some campaigns until January, long after the votes are counted. Contributors to others won't be disclosed until a few days before the election — after many early voters have cast ballots.

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"Political players get better and better at playing the money shell game," said Alexander, whose group provides information about campaign measures, including the largest donors.

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In some ways, political donations have never been more transparent in California. Anyone with Internet access can track most of the $200 million-plus being raised in this year's campaign. (See cal-access.ss.ca.gov/Campaign/Other/)

But it is still easy to obscure what is being raised and spent.

In March, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger disclosed that a Republican committee in Hamilton County, Ohio, gave him $44,535. The California disclosure offers no hint of whose money that was. The Ohio reports are not available online; paper copies are in Cincinnati.

Obtained by mail, the Ohio report shows that Carl H. Lindner, owner of the Cincinnati Reds baseball team and chairman of a national insurance company, was by far the largest single donor to the Republican committee that month, having given $31,750. He has been a major donor to the governor, and his insurance company does business in California.

[Alia]

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[NormsRevenge]

Want to be a good citizen and voter?

FoR starters, Toss the mailings and Take the Voter Guides and read them for yourself.

I know a lot of folks are busy but too much is at stake to let anyone in or out of state influencing the decision-making that citizens are responsible for when they enter the voting booths across this state November 8th.

[NormsRevenge]

Campaign Finance Activity

http://cal-access.ss.ca.gov/Campaign/Other/

[NormsRevenge]

Sac Bee (Excerpted)

Special election: Fight for voter turnout may swing results

By Laura Mecoy -- Bee Los Angeles Bureau

http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/13758070p-14600317c.html

Story appeared on Page A1 of The Bee

REDONDO BEACH - On a break from her retail job, Laurel Heard slurped a green tea shake through a straw and resolutely declared she neither knew nor cared about the Nov. 8 election.

Melen McBride, a 67-year-old retiree shopping at the same mall, said she plans to vote but knows little about the eight initiatives on the ballot.