Privacy

Naked Politics: Democratic sleaze and the Clean Money campaign

August 9, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">LA Weekly (California)</p> <p>The argument against the measure (Prop 89) is that one way or another Big Money is going to find its way into campaigns and that unions and Democrats can't retreat from the frontlines of spending. Jay Hansen, the legislative director of the state's building trades union council, rebutted that notion at the Democratic meeting. "We can't win the money war," he said. "We shouldn't be spending on endless fund raising. We should be spending on organizing our members."</p>

SM gives anti-corruption law ‘the cold shoulder’

August 8, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Pasadena Weekly</p> <p>"Santa Monica used to be regarded as the far-out municipality, especially with its resistance to development and all that, and you would think that Santa Monica would be in the forefront of good government, particularly as it relates to campaign finance reform. Here they have just cold-shouldered the whole business, as far as I can see," said former state Attorney General John Van de Kamp, who headed Pasadena's task force.</p>

Tax Dodgers for Schwarzenegger

August 8, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">The Gov shares one key value with his big money backers -- they don't like taxes. Some of Arnold's billionaire contributors have been ...</font>

The Spielbergs, Not the Seniors

August 7, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver are no doubt glowing today over the <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-dems5aug05,1,5284187.story?coll=la-headlines-california">front page...</a> </font>

Angelides Backs Public Financing of Campaigns;

August 4, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>The Democrat, who is running for governor, defies key supporters and endorses Prop. 89.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>The decision to endorse Proposition 89 puts Angelides at odds with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, his Republican opponent. Schwarzenegger had made sweeping away the influence of special interests a central platform of the 2003 recall as he blistered then-Gov. Gray Davis for his fundraising. Since then, Schwarzenegger has broken fundraising records himself and has shown little interest in changing campaign finance laws.</p>

CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC PARTY: HYPOCRISY – THY NAME IS ARNOLD

August 3, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">US Fed News</p> <p>Since announcing his appearance on the Tonight Show, Arnold has raised $94,440,043 according to the Foundation for Taxpayers and Consumer Rights. He also promised campaign finance reform: "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, in the final weeks before the Oct. 7 recall election, pledged to introduce a "People's Reform Plan" that would bar the governor and members of the Legislature from raising campaign donations while working on the state budget. "But now, nearly a month after the new governor introduced his budget, he continues to jet around the state and the nation, seeking campaign donations of up to $500,000 apiece, becoming the most aggressive fund-raising governor in California's history." (San Francisco Chronicle, February 6th, 2004)</p>

Sharing Quality Time With the Gov.

August 3, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>I suggested that to save face, Schwarzenegger ought to endorse Proposition 89 or come up with some other meaningful campaign finance reform. </p>

Schwarzenegger spends $7 million on ads and still has money left

August 1, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>Jamie Court, president of the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, which is supporting the measure, said the fact that business and labor groups had come together to oppose the measure shows how threatening it is to the status quo. "Only a genuine campaign finance reform overhaul like Proposition 89 could force big labor and big business onto the same team because no cash-rich special interest will be able to buy the Legislature if Prop. 89 passes," he said in an e-mailed statement.</p>

Democrats roll out their big fundraising gun

July 31, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Sacramento Bee</p> <p>"It was appalling that Schwarzenegger was doing it, and it's equally appalling that Angelides is playing that game," said Doug Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, which backs an initiative to provide public campaign financing.</p>

Stem cell agency looks for patrons;

July 26, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>State biotech leaders discuss possible sources of research funding</h3><p class="source">The Oakland Tribune</p> <p>Still, consumer groups are cautious about industry involvement in state policy making. "Industry should be involved," said John Simpson, stem cell project director for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "The key is to make sure that it doesn't become a blank check."</p>

Ruling Threatens Consumer Lawsuits;

July 25, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>A state Supreme Court decision could void many cases filed before Proposition 64's passage.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Consumer advocates argued that post-election efforts to apply the law retroactively amounted to a bait-and-switch tactic designed to sink a pack of troublesome lawsuits. Monday's ruling in the Mervyn's case is "a blow to every one of those cases now pending," said Carmen Balber, consumer advocate with the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "They now have an extra hurdle to overcome to move forward."</p>

New life for California stem cell agency

July 24, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Oakland Tribune</p> <p>John Simpson of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, which has been monitoring CIRM's policy decisions, said that the agency needs a clear plan for governing ownership of any scientific discoveries made with state funds before issuing any grants. "You wouldn't shoot a $150 million movie without a script," he said.</p>