News Clips

Kathay Feng, executive director of California Common Cause, an advocacy group that participated in the 2013 meetings, said she could see the appeal in creating a system that brings constituents closer to their elected officials. But she said her group had questions about how the proposal would be implemented.

California Common Cause wrote to the committee that it would establish a double-standard placing legislators "uniquely above the law" by giving them "carte blanche to lie about their residence for voting purposes," while courts have no way to review whether they actually live at the domicile they claim.

Good government advocates have argued for years that some ballot measure committees are used as slush funds for candidates to get around finance laws and boost their own campaigns. Kathay Feng, the executive director of California Common Cause, said Allen’s ad “appears to be an attempt to circumvent California’s campaign finance limits.”

"Community colleges spend taxpayer dollars and people need to know how those decisions are made through a transparent and open bidding process,” said Kathay Feng, executive director of California Common Cause. "When a major contract is signed without a public bidding process, it can affect the public’s confidence in the district.”

Kathay Feng, the executive director of California Common Cause and a leader for nonpartisan reformation of California’s redistricting process, spoke to Ian Masters on the widely broadcast radio talk show “Background Briefing” about the new census question.

“Most campaigns, to avoid the appearance of corruption, will disgorge immediately,” she said. “Something about the timing is questionable. (Once) it’s clear the source is of foreign origin, there is an ethical obligation for the candidate to return (the money).”