Press Releases
See past 3 | 6 | 12 months. 2010
For immediate release: 10/11/2010
Big Contributors Fund Propositions with over $84 Million
Each group or individual spending $100k or more listed
Contact: Roman Porter, (916) 322-7761
Continuing efforts to inform Californians of who is attempting to influence the outcome of elections, the Fair Political Practices Commission, California's campaign finance watchdog, today released information identifying the committees established to support or oppose the nine propositions appearing on the November ballot. Committees established to support or oppose these propositions received over $84.25 million in contributions of $100,000 or more. The report details those contributors who provided committees with $100,000 or more from January 1, 2009 through September 30, 2010.
"While candidate spending invariably receives the most attention, the tens of millions of dollars from large donors flowing into the ballot initiative campaigns is once again the big story when it comes to the influence of big money in California politics," said FPPC Chairman Dan Schnur. "Once again, 2010 is destined to be a record-setting year in the annals of big-dollar spending on California initiatives. I predict this record will stand until 2012."
No fewer than 40 committees raised $50,000 or more to further their efforts of supporting or opposing the nine propositions and 23 of those committees received contributions of $100,000 or more from at least one contributor. Proposition 24 leads large cumulative contributions with over $22.684 million and Proposition 23 is close behind at just over $22 million. Proposition 19 raised the fewest large contributions with slightly more than $1.6 million.
A number of individuals or committees chose to support more than one measure and the total amount they contributed to all measures is included in the breakdown available under "Special Reports" on the Commission's website at www.fppc.ca.gov.
Highlights of contributions received by committees supporting or opposing propositions include:
Proposition 19- Over $1.5 million in support from S.K. Seymour, LLC, Oaksterdam University and Affiliated Entities
- Over $7.4 million from Charles T. Munger, Jr.
- Over $6 million raised with no payments of $100,000 or more in opposition
- Over $2.4 million contributed from various accounts of the League of California Cities
- Over $7.25 million raised from various oil and petrochemical interests
- 10 separate committees established to specifically oppose this measure
- More than $13.5 million raised, mainly from individuals
- $5 million from Thomas Steyer, Hedge Fund Manager of Farallon Capital Management
- More than $11.25 million in support, with nearly $6.5 million from the CA Teachers Association Issues PAC
- Nearly $11.5 million raised from 15 separate companies
- Over $7.750 contributed from 12 separate committees representing labor interests
- Over $5.5 million provided by 9 separate business interests
- Nearly $5.5 million raised in support
- $825,000 from three elected officials, including $625,000 from Congresswoman Judy Chu