OC Political

This just came across the wire from the Stop Special Interest Money Now campaign (Full Disclosure: Custom Campaigns is doing consulting work on this race):

Special interest money is driving the agenda in Sacramento. Check out our new campaign video about the amount of influence AT&T has bought with political spending. AT&T’s control over lawmakers illustrates the need for one of  the Stop Special Interest Money Act’s key reforms–banning direct contributions from special interests to lawmakers. As an LA Times story on AT&T’s influence indicated, “AT&T hands out, on average, more than $1 million in political contributions each year. Every current member of the Legislature has received at least $1,000; chairmen of the committees that oversee the telecommunications industry get far more.” SSIM would put an end to corporate contributions to state and local lawmakers, reducing the influence of corporations like AT&T substantially. The Stop Special Interest Money Now initiative reduces the power of special interests across the board by: 1) banning both corporate and labor union contributions to state and local candidates 2) prohibiting government contractors from contributing to state and local officials who can award them contracts 3) barring corporations, government employers, and labor unions from collecting funds from employees by payroll deduction and using that money for politics. Together we can make a difference and curb the influence of special interest money in Sacramento. Here are a few things you can do right now to make a difference:   Like the campaign on Facebook   Tweet Take Back California   Email Friends & Family