Democrats: Dinner for Donors to Brown-Backed Campaigns

abc ^ | 9/2/16 | ellen knickmeyer, associated press

[Nachum]

California Gov. Jerry Brown is offering intimate gubernatorial dinners to donors who help defeat a targeted November ballot measure, at a time when the governor will be deciding the fate of all new state legislation, the state Democratic Party says.

Proposition 53 would require statewide voter approval on projects that would require more than $2 billion in state revenue bonds to fund. That could complicate the future of two proposed Brown projects, for high-speed rail and for giant twin tunnels to carry Northern California water south.

A fundraising letter by state Democratic Party financial chief Angie Tate on Aug. 9 calls defeating the proposition a priority for Brown and the state party.

"The Governor will be hosting a series of small dinners in August and September to thank those that are able to help on his priorities," Tate wrote.

The letter also identified an unrelated measure regarding parole as the governor's other campaign priority.

Sent to lobbyists and other potential donors, the letter raised eyebrows for what some saw as an offer of access for special interests, during a time when Brown has the year's legislation on his desk for signing or vetoing. The governor has until Sept. 30 to decide on newly passed legislation.

So far, fundraising mainly is pitting Dean Cortopassi, the affluent Stockton farmer and factory-operator who organized the petition drive bringing Proposition 53 to the ballot, against an array of more prominent opponents. Those include the governor, the state Democratic Party, the state Chamber of Commerce, and construction-industry groups.

[Nachum]

Prop 53.... good reason to vote.

[Nachum]

ping..

[showme_the_Glory]

Dean Cortopassi, the affluent Stockton farmer and factory-operator who organized the petition drive bringing Proposition 53 to the ballot

Dean Cortopassi and family are excellent examples of migrants doing it the right way.

[Dr.Deth]

Democrats: Dinner for Donors to Brown-Backed Campaigns

First course will be salad.