State Assembly Passes Sb 1001 To Raise Fess On Lobbyists And Political Committees

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August 21, 2012

Phillip Ung (916) 520-4070

State Assembly Passes SB 1001 to Raise Fess on Lobbyists and Political Committees

Fees on lobbyists and political committees will fund new disclosure system

Sacramento, CA – Earlier today, the California State Assembly passed Senate Bill 1001 with bipartisan support, a bill that would increase lobbyist registration fees for the first time in nearly 40 years and enact a fee on political committees who spend or receive more than $1,000 in an election. All fee revenues would be used for the upgrade, maintenance and repair of California’s antiquated campaign finance and lobbying disclosure system, better known as Cal-Access. SB 1001 is authored by Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) and sponsored by California Common Cause. SB 1001

“It’s time the State replaced its 21-year old computer with a 21st century system that increases transparency at no cost to the taxpayer. The new system is fully paid for through fees on lobbyists and political committees. This bill received bipartisan support because lawmakers heard voters’ pleas for more transparency and disclosure in our political campaigns,” said Phillip Ung, policy advocate for California Common Cause.

SB 1001 will return to the State Senate for Concurrence. The bill received bipartisan support in the Senate earlier this year. SB 1001 is supported by Common Cause, Institute of Governmental Advocates (lobbying industry), Fair Political Practices Commission, and the California Newspaper Publishers Association.

California Common Cause is a non-partisan, non-profit that strives to strengthen our democracy by empowering our members, supporters and the general public to take action on critical policy issues.