Common Blog

Voters rightly recognize that pricey gifts come with influence and expensive dinners give interest groups air time with legislators. The state pays enough for legislators to survive in California, so any additional benefits come with their own intentions. Regular citizens cannot cough up gifts to receive special consideration, so government officials truly serving the public interest should not accept gifts from special interests.

Before starting the internship, I honestly did not know what to expect. Until two days ago, I never stepped foot in Sacramento and I felt entirely oblivious to the ins and outs of California politics other than what I saw on the news and read on political blogs. I was jumping in with both feet into the world of California policy and lobbying.

Today, California Secretary of State Debra Bowen announced her plans to make the raw data behind California’s lobbyists and campaign finance database available, online, on one spreadsheet available to the public and updated daily. Secretary Bowen’s announcement is a reversal from a position she has long held since Common Cause began asking for this disclosure in 2011.

  Last Thursday, California Common Cause policy advocate Phillip Ung and state board member LeeAnn Pelham joined a panel of speakers to discuss electoral reform for the nation and the Golden State. The forum was hosted by freshman Congressman Jared Huffman (CA-2) and included Congressman John Larson (CT-1) who chair’s the House Democratic Caucus’ task [...]

This morning, California took a historic step towards putting voters first over big money special interests. California Assembly Member Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont), chair of the Assembly Judiciary Committee, introduced Assembly Bill 644, legislation that will place a question on the 2014 General Election ballot to give California voters the opportunity to directly express their opinion on Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, and direct the state’s congressional delegation to support a constitutional amendment to allow limits on political contributions and spending.