Millions Flow Through Loophole in State Campaign Finance Law; Politics: Herb Wesson and John Burton lead the list, with $2 million between them HOME EDITION

Leading the scramble are the Legislature's two highest-ranking officials, Assembly Speaker [Herb Wesson] of Culver City and Senate President Pro Tem [John Burton] of San Francisco, both Democrats. Burton was the principal author of Proposition 34, the state campaign finance law that was intende...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Los Angeles times
Main Author VIRGINIA ELLIS and CARL INGRAM
Format Newspaper Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Los Angeles, Calif Los Angeles Times Communications LLC 28.05.2002
Subjects
California
Campaign contributions
Political finance
State elections
California
SACRAMENTO
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Summary:Leading the scramble are the Legislature's two highest-ranking officials, Assembly Speaker [Herb Wesson] of Culver City and Senate President Pro Tem [John Burton] of San Francisco, both Democrats. Burton was the principal author of Proposition 34, the state campaign finance law that was intended to curb political contributions. It was placed on the ballot by the state Legislature and then approved by voters in 2000. Any contribution made from those older committees to another candidate would be subject to Proposition 34's $3,000 limit. On May 17, the commission told Wesson that, under Proposition 34's restrictions, it is illegal to make contributions to other state candidates in excess of the limit. Burton's contributors included the California State Employees Assn., which gave $75,000. State government attorneys donated $72,000. A sampling of campaign reports showed that Assembly Republican Leader Dave Cox of Fair Oaks accepted no contributions exceeding the Proposition 34 limit. Senate Republican Leader Jim Brulte of Rancho Cucamonga accepted three contributions of $5,000 each, or a total of $6,000 over the limit. A number of other Assembly members and state senators also have benefited from contributions to their existing committees that exceed the Proposition 34 limits.
ISSN:0458-3035