Whitman Has Spent 173 Times As Much As Brown

Here’s the staggering statistic of the afternoon: Meg Whitman (R) has spent $110 million dollars already in the race for California Governor. Jerry Brown (D) has spent just $633,205. That ratio is 173:1. For comparison’s sake, the diameter of the sun to the diameter of the Earth is only 108:1.

The ratio of Earth to the sun still undercounts how much Whitman has been spending relative to Brown.

Shattering Spending Records, Whitman Buys Bush-Era Economic Policies Another Chance

California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman (R) has launched a second attack ad, just weeks after her first summer splash called Jerry Brown a “failure.” The new ad focuses on — as suggested by Jerry Brown’s material lack of an agenda — Jerry Brown’s alleged lack of any agenda.

Whitman v. The People

Campaign Finance Ordinance Killed

At today’s meeting (agenda here, see Item 14), repeal of a campaign finance ordinance broke normal Council unanimity.

Huizar (CD-14) talks of promoting campaign finance laws but voted to repeal the 25-year-old contribution limits to committees making individual expenditures.

Paul Krekorian (CD-2) and Bill Rosendahl (CD-11) voted to keep the campaign finance laws on the books, while eleven others (all councilmembers except Garcetti and Smith, who were absent) struck it down. The idea to strike down Section 49.7.24 of the code came from City Attorney Carmen Trutanich (memo here). Trutanich and Deputy Attorney Renee Stadel argued that as a result of this year’s Supreme Court 5-4 ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the city could get sued by individuals who sought unlimited independent spending to influence campaigns.

Rosendahl, who said that “Our democracy is pretty much already controlled by the rich people,” rallied against the repeal with usual white-hot bombast. Lower-key was Krekorian, whose own costly, hard-fought election campaign underscores his seriousness on the issue.

Last year, as the runoff campaign between Krekorian and Paramount Pictures mogul Christine Essel got nasty, Krekorian pushed for tighter control on independent expenditures (12/9/09, CBS).

The Krekorian campaign asked the City Attorney’s Office to uphold ethics laws after a nonprofit group linked to a powerful union filed a federal lawsuit, claiming a city campaign fundraising law was unfairly restricting its ability to support Essel.

Krekorian said it showed Essel was being supported by special interests. Essel has denied the claims.

Today, Krekorian reiterated his support for campaign finance laws — despite the altered constitutional landscape of a post-Citizens United world.

During debate, José Huizar (CD-14) was commended by Krekorian for his work on reigniting campaign finance efforts in LA. Yet Huizar voted to repeal the ordinance. In a question to Deputy Attorney Stadel, Huizar asked if pending federal legislation might affect the need to repeal the ordinance. Stadel replied that the Disclose Act currently pending in Congress could not undo the Citizens United decision, but could enhance disclosure requirements for corporations (read more from today’s The Hill here). The Disclose Act would allow voters to see who is funding the attacks and advertisements that flood mailboxes and airwaves during election seasons.

While it’s clear the City should avoid scurrilous lawsuits that sap the City Attorney’s resources, it’s much less clear whether repeal is the right move. Under Citizens United, the federal government must demonstrate quid pro quo corruption or the appearance of corruption to regulate contributors to independent expenditure committees. That’s a mighty tall order. Now, the City has the same policy. No councilmember asked during debate what other major municipalities are doing in the face of Citizens United decisions. One wonders, however, if New York City or San Francisco is rushing to repeal laws that promote fair, transparent elections.

The influence of money in determining who sits in the Council Chamber’s Horseshoe is undeniable. In repealing the campaign finance ordinance, the City Council approved being bought and sold by corporations and millionaires.