{"id":9571,"date":"2023-04-20T12:48:13","date_gmt":"2023-04-20T19:48:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandiegonewsdesk.com\/?p=9571"},"modified":"2023-04-20T12:48:13","modified_gmt":"2023-04-20T19:48:13","slug":"california-pay-to-play-law-could-empower-wealthy-candidates-and-special-interests","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandiegonewsdesk.com\/?p=9571","title":{"rendered":"California pay-to-play law could empower wealthy candidates and special interests"},"content":{"rendered":"

The original article can be read here.<\/a><\/p>\n

by Garrett Gatewood<\/p>\n

Garrett Gatewood is a member of the Rancho Cordova City Council.<\/p>\n

When I became the first Black person elected to the Rancho Cordova City Council in 2018, I wasn\u2019t the scion of a powerful political family or the beneficiary of wealthy special interests. I made history because of my track record fighting for my community, and was able to mobilize a lot of fellow citizens who shared my passion and were willing to invest in my campaign.<\/p>\n

Senate Bill 1439<\/a>, authored by Sen. Steve Glazer, would make that impossible for future candidates facing the same challenges, and make it harder for political newcomers and members of minority groups to get elected.<\/p>\n

The law took effect this year. I joined a\u00a0lawsuit<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0try and stop it<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The policy is described as a tool to \u201cban pay-to-play<\/a>,\u201d which is a good soundbite, but such unethical activity has been and remains illegal. Rather than improving ethical campaign activity and good government policy, in practice, SB 1439 is a well-intentioned disaster that will disproportionately hurt minorities trying to win a seat at the table.<\/p>\n

I understand the challenges that underrepresented communities must overcome to compete for public office. Let\u2019s be honest, politics favors the rich and powerful, not people who look like me. SB 1439 will make it even harder.<\/p>\n

Proponents of the bill claim it decreases the influence of money in politics by drastically reducing how much candidates can receive from donors who have an interest in the future of their communities. But in truth, it forces campaign money underground and empowers wealthy candidates and special interests.<\/p>\n

History has shown that\u00a0restrictions on publicly-disclosed contributions<\/a>\u00a0to candidates actually\u00a0increase how much money is spent<\/a>\u00a0on campaigns. Even worse, it hides that spending from public and media scrutiny by shifting it into\u00a0dark-money PACs and independent expenditure campaigns<\/a>\u00a0funded by special interests with no spending limits and little motivation to tell the truth.<\/p>\n

I certainly would rather know who is really funding the candidates running in my community.<\/p>\n

Politics today is toxic enough \u2013 we should not surrender control of public debate to unaccountable special interests who will flood our mailboxes and airwaves with negative hit pieces. Meanwhile, this law would limit new and minority candidates\u2019 access to the funds needed to share their vision and their words with their constituents.<\/p>\n

SB 1439 takes power from local elected officials \u2013 and the voters who elected them \u2013 by prohibiting officials from voting for 12 months after a contribution of just $250 is made. That would stall efforts to build roads, revitalize schools, create affordable housing or tackle homelessness.<\/p>\n

California faces a host of crises from education and infrastructure, to crime, homelessness and housing. This law doesn\u2019t solve any of them. And, it will make it harder for us to elect more diverse, representative candidates who are ready to fight for real solutions.<\/p>\n

Original Article Link: The unintended consequences of California pay-to-play law – CalMatters<\/a><\/p>\n

Image Credit: Canva<\/p>\n