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California Online Voter Guide


June 2010 Statewide Primary Election

19th edition

Voter Guide toolbar - President selected Propostions Statewide Congress

Proposition 15 - Political Reform Act of 1974: California Fair Elections Act of 2008. Failed

Legislative Statutory Amendment

 

Official Summary:

Repeals ban on public funding of political campaigns. Creates a voluntary system for candidates for Secretary of State to qualify for a public campaign grant if they agree to limitations on spending and private contributions. Each candidate demonstrating enough public support would receive same amount. Participating candidates would be prohibited from raising or spending money beyond the grant. There would be strict enforcement and accountability. Funded by voluntary contributions and a biennial fee on lobbyists, lobbying firms, and lobbyist employers.

Fiscal Impact: Increased revenues (mostly from charges related to lobbyists) totaling over $6 million every four years. These funds would be spent on public financing for campaigns of Secretary of State candidates for the 2014 and 2018 elections.

What a Yes or No Vote Means

A YES vote on this measure means: The state ban on public funding for political campaigns for elected offices would be lifted. For the 2014 and 2018 elections, candidates for the office of Secretary of State could choose to receive public funds to pay for the costs of campaigns if they met certain requirements. Charges related to lobbyists would be increased to pay for these costs.

A NO vote on this measure means: The state ban on public funding for political campaigns for elected offices would continue. Candidates for the office of Secretary of State would continue to pay for their campaigns with private funds subject to current rules. Existing charges related to lobbyists would not change.

Official Voter Guide page

This page features the Legislative Analyst's analysis, pro-con arguments, legislative votes and the full proposition text.

Campaign Web Sites and Contact Information

Who Signed the Ballot Arguments

News Stories

This page provides excerpts from and links to news coverage of the propositions on the ballot.

Follow the Money

Proposition 15 - Top Five Donors

(as of 6/2/10)

Position

S U P P O R T

O P P O S E

Total Raised *

(as of6/2/)

$326,778

$218,150

Top Donors

(as of 6/2)

Donor information

Amount

Donor Information

Amount

California Nurses Association, Oakland, CA

$115,387

  

California Business PAC, sponsored by the CA Chamber of Commerce, Sacramento, CA

$20,000

California Clean Money Action Fund, Culver City, CA

$30,000

Western Manufactured Housing Community Association Issues PAC, Sacramento, CA

$10,000

Trent Lange, Investment Manager, Lange Fund Management, LLC, Los Angeles, CA

$22,016

California New Car Dealers Association, Sacramento, CA

$10,000

Stephen M. Silberstein, Founder, Stephen M. Silberstein Foundation, Belvedere Tiberon, CA

$15,000

California Hospital Committee on Issues, Sacramento, CA

$9,900

James Kimo Campbell, Investor, James Kimo Campbell, San Rafael, CA

$10,000

  

DiMare, Van Vleck & Brown, LLC, Sacramento, CA

$7,500

* Total amount raised includes all contributions received in 2009 and through May 22, 2010, plus contributions of $5,000 or more received between May 23 - June 2, 2010.

Detailed information about all contributors for and against Proposition 15 is available from campaign finance reports at Cal-Access, the Secretary of State's campaign disclosure web site.

To view the most recent contributions, select a committee and click "Late and $5000+ Contributions Received".

 

This page was first published on April 25, 2010 | Last updated on July 31, 2010
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