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| For Immediate Release |
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For More Information, contact:
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| Friday, March 3, 2000 |
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Kim Alexander or Saskia Mills
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(916) 325-2120; info@calvoter.org
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California Proposition Campaigns Raise Over $150
Million
Top ten donors available at www.calvoter.org
Sacramento, California -- Proponents and opponents of California's twenty propositions
have raised over $150 million, according to research compiled and released today
by the California Voter Foundation. The research is available online at:
http://www.calvoter.org
Propositions 30 and 31 are the most expensive measures on the March 7 ballot,
with $55.4 million raised for and against the two measures as of February 19, followed
by Prop. 1A, at $22.3 million, and Prop. 26 at $22 million. Prop 22, an initiative
that would ban gay marriage in California, ranked as the fourth most expensive measure
on the ballot, with $14.8 million raised by both sides. Proposition campaigns reported
raising a total of $140.7 million as of February 19, and an additional $10 million
has been raised between Feb. 20 - March 3 in late contributions.
"California's airwaves are flooded right now with television advertisements
urging a 'yes' or 'no' vote on propositions," said Kim Alexander, President
of the California Voter Foundation. "T.V advertising costs millions of dollars
in California. Voters can find out who's paying for all those ads at www.calvoter.org."
CVF's web site lists the Top Ten donors supporting and opposing each proposition
campaign. The list includes the donor's city, state, occupation, employer and the
total amount contributed. The site also provides summary figures for each measure,
showing the total amount raised and spent by each side since the beginning of the
campaign, including costs to qualify the measures.
"Voters need help sorting out all these propositions and can cut to the chase
by following the money," Alexander said. Prop 30 is supported by trial lawyers
and opposed, along with Prop. 31, by insurance companies. 30 and 31 are two referenda
measures that, if defeated by voters, would repeal two laws favored by trial lawyers
and approved by the Legislature that would expand the right to sue insurance companies
if claims are delayed. Prop 1A is supported by Indian tribes seeking to amend California's
constitution to allow casino-style gambling on California tribal lands. Prop 26 is
supported by the state teachers' union and high tech entrepreneurs who are seeking
a change in state law that would make it easier to pass local school bonds.
CVF's web site, at www.calvoter.org, offers many services to voters looking for reliable
election information, including the California Online Voter Guide, an election portal
with links to over 250 campaign web sites, and "The Proposition Song",
an animated sing-along presentation providing a musical overview of all 20 California
propositions. "People are busy, and this is a very confusing election. Our web
site helps voters understand their choices and prepare to make informed decisions
on March 7," Alexander said.
The California Voter Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization advancing
new technologies to improve democracy. CVF's election 2000 projects are supported
with grants from the Gerbode Foundation, the Arkay Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation
of New York and the Hewlett Foundation, and contributions from members. For more
information, visit www.calvoter.org.
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This page first published March 3, 2000 -- last updated March 3, 2000