For Immediate Release: March 23, 2005

 

Court Tentatively Rules Against FPPC – Victory for Powerful Interests

Today, Sacramento Country Superior Court Judge Shelleyanne Chang tentatively ruled against the Fair Political Practice Commission’s Regulation 18530.9, which applies candidate limits to the committees they control. The court’s interpretation of Constitutional law neglects recent rulings by the Supreme Court. Its interpretation of the facts neglects reality.

“Californians have said repeatedly that they support limits on campaign contributions. Today’s ruling is out of step with reality, out of step with the people, and out of step with the supreme law of this nation,” said Derek Cressman, Director of TheRestofUs.org. “Every Californian who can’t come up with a hundred grand got robbed of their political rights by this court.”

The court confused the constitutional right to association with a right that does not exist- the right to make million-dollar contributions to a committee clearly under the strong influence and control of a politician, in this case the Governor.

“With this lawsuit, the Governor and his big-money buddies have kicked the teeth out of California’s campaign finance laws, said Ned Wigglesworth, analyst for TheRestofUs.org. “Thanks to the court and the Governor’s committees, the rest of us can shout ourselves hoarse and still not be heard above the roar of the millionaires’ cash.”

The Fair Political Practices Commission has said it will strongly defend its rule. TheRestofUs.org said that it assumes that the FPPC will appeal today’s misguided ruling, especially considering recent Supreme Court precedent which clearly favors laws designed to prevent the evasion of contribution limits.

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TheRestofUs.org is a nonpartisan political watchdog dedicated to alerting citizens to the problems of big money in politics.