An initiative to end the practice of governments accepting and spending non–reported dollars for political activity was launched at a press conference in Sacramento today. Proponents are Jon Coupal of Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn., Jim Nielsen, Chairman of the California Alliance to Protect Prvivate Property Rights and former state senator, and Lew Uhler of National Tax Limitation Committee.
Under the present scheme, the League of California Cities and other entities can utilize so called "non-public funds" to weigh in politically on issues like, say, defeating efforts of protecting your property rights from abusive eminent domain takings. $7 million has been raised without accountability to fight Prop 90 previously and now towards the true eminent domain reform initiative circulating thru Farm Bureau, Howard Jarvis and the CA Alliance to Protect Private Property. [They also have their own clever initiative that they are pushing and funding to make it look like they are reforming EmDo but has such weak and narrow "protections" that local govenment would still be able to take what they want, when they want…your tax dollars at work?!]
Over 80% of the dollars being used to fight against the good guys EmDo reform is coming from these non-accountable funds. Any political committee or candidate can tell you that with the info required by Prop 34 or the much hated McCain-Feingold reporting requirements that no one else is getting away with such loosey goosey political finance methods.
Although some of the requirements of McCain-Feingold reporting etc. are ridiculous in practice for everyone else, the goal is accountability for the public and the media to see who is funding what.
Why is the California Redevelopment Association, who could declare a Taj Mahal blighted if that served it’s purpose, not subject to the same reporting as anyone else?
What interests are being served by the dollars flowing into anti-property rights efforts, who’s benefiting? Who is being "shook-down" by these entities where, strangely, their building permits and zoning hearings get "put off", or they don’t get the rights-of-way deals done that they need from the locals, unless everyone plays ball?
This initiative effort will certainly draw the attention to an issue that has needed the spotlight on it for quite some time. Voters, when given a chance will be especially interested in a policy that ensures that their tax dollars are not going for political activity, especially activity most would be strongly opposed to. What defense is there for these groups to operate under the radar? It’ll be fun to hear the excuses. Kudos to Jon Coupal and Howard Jarvis Taxpayers, Lew Uhler and NLTC, and Jim Nielsen and the Alliance for bringing this effort for accountabilty of campaign contributions forward.