[EL] Allison Hayward has Issues, round 2 (AB249)

[Allison Hayward]

Greetings, People of the List:


As you may have seen, the California Legislature has amended and is moving quickly to pass the so-called "Disclose" act (AB 249) this week.  In it is a lot of confusing and overlapping stuff about advertisements and major funder disclosure you can read at your leisure.


In it is also an exemption for the disclosure of the "true source' of earmarked contributions, if those contributions total under $500 from a source in a calendar year.  That is, a group could solicit donations of $499 for a candidate, for instance, and the identity of those donors would remain unreported (The threshold for reporting in California is $100)


Let it be known that I think small donor reporting is problematic and that even an across the board threshold of $500 is puny - but that's not what this is.  This amendment shields donors in one specific situation.  I don't think that's fair.  I also predict that $499 fundraising schemes will blossom in the wake of such a change.


Let's not forget, also, that local governments may have contribution limits under $500.  Again, my view has always been that such measures are not great, but local governments in California are entitled to enact laws I think are unwise.  How will this exemption play against those limits?  Is the Legislature about to legalize "straw donor" schemes designed to circumvent these low limits or hide true sources of funding?


Or if not, can someone please tell me how this amendment avoids that bad end?  This amendments were just added, and I could be overlooking something, admittedly.


In general, late amendments rushed through legislatures are rarely the friend of good campaign finance regulation.  Today is no exception.


If you are someone who prides yourself on your enthusiastic support of progress and reform in this area, I hope you will take a close look at the amended version of this bill, and reflect on whether it fits goals you hold dear.


Thanks for the read,


Allison
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