Disclosure Decision Will Make It More Difficult to Hide Funding for Anti-Pension Initiative

You may recall the brouhaha that developed around secret funding by a group that opposed Proposition 30 (the governor’s tax initiative) and supported Prop 32 (an anti-union initiative).  It became an issue late in that election.  Large fines have now been levied by the California Fair Political Practices Commission.  While this development may seem like old political news, it will be relevant for whatever groups are pushing the anti-pension initiative about which we have been posting and which covers UC.  It will be more difficult – but not impossible – to continue to hide behind the friendly faces of a few California mayors, the stance taken so far.  Of course, some donors don’t care their names are known.  But apparently some do, since care was taken to launder the contributions in the anti-30/pro-32 campaign.

You can read more details and see a TV newscast about this episode at http://www.news10.net/capitol/article/261647/525/State-levies-16-million-fine-over-2012-mystery-campaign-cash

The Koch connection is highlighted at http://www.sacbee.com/2013/10/25/5850222/dan-morain.html

A press release from the FPPC is at: http://www.fppc.ca.gov/releasespdf/2013-10-24.pdf

UPDATE: The New Yorker picks up the story at http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/currency/2013/10/the-koch-brothers-in-california.html

The related FPPC press conference can be seen at the link below: [starts at minute 6:30]
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeqryX8LiUU?feature=player_detailpage]