AB 84
What is it?
It is a mini me version of Citizens United and it passed the Senate 3-2 and is now in committee.
If you do not want dark money in campaigns in California you must call your Assemblyperson and your State Senator. It is right now in a committee but if you put the heat on your representative then when it comes out for a vote your Rep will feel too much pressure to sign off on it.
If you don't know your Cal State Reps GO HERE.
This bill was generated by Senate Pro Tem Mullin who is Assembly District CA22 --- Obviously if you know anyone in South San Francisco encourage them to call Mullin's office and tell them how disappointed they are in this bill.
Here is an article in LA Times
And this is a cheat sheet on what AB 84 is all about---.
Assembly Bill 84 Fact Sheet
Lead Author: Assembly Speaker Pro Tem Kevin Mullin (D-22)
Principal Coauthors: Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-63)/Minority Leader Brian Dahle (R-01)
What AB 84 Does:
● Allows the Speaker of the Assembly, the Assembly Minority Leader, the Senate President Pro Tempore, and the Senate Minority Leader to each establish “Legislative Caucus Committees” that would operate the same as current political party committees, but without any oversight by the elected Party organization.
● Requires party committees to file 12 monthly disclosure reports in election years if they raised or spent $50,000 or more in the previous calendar year, as opposed to the 8 to 10 they currently do.
How Does This Compare To The Status Quo?
● The campaign fundraising committees permitted to the leadership under current rules are subject to strict caps, limiting them to donations of up to $4,400form a single source.
● Political party committees, however, can raise up to $36,500from a single source, and are allowed an unlimited amount in independent expenditures for and against candidates. AB 84 would create four new committees with these higher limits.
Current Law With AB 84
Contribution limits TO committees directed by caucus leaders for state candidates
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$4,400
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$36,500
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Contribution limits TO committees directed by caucus leaders for candidate IEs
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$4,400
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Unlimited
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Contribution limits FROM committees directed by caucus leaders to legislative candidates
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$4,400
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Unlimited
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Why Is This A Problem?
● Under AB 84, special interests will now have a larger pipelineto donate massive amounts to those who direct the activities of the California legislature. This will dramatically expand the influence of undesirable special interests like fossil fuels, charter school, and the private prison industry. Because of pressure from activists and delegates, the Democratic Party currently does not accept donations from these sources. AB 84 provides Legislative leaders a work-around to accept large cash infusions from polluters and prison profiteers.
● Under AB 84, Legislative leaders could flood races with money for their preferred candidates, no matter who is endorsed by the Party. Party committees are overseen and accountable to elected delegates who vote on important questions like candidate endorsements. AB 84 is an undemocratic end-run.
● Passage will likely result in a siphoning of resources from the State Parties to Legislative leadership, which could have an adverse effect on the efforts of State Parties to build infrastructure and encourage participation.
Sample Opposition Phone Call Info & Script
"HI my name is ___________ and I'm from _______. I'm calling to urge ____ to oppose (or abstain on) AB84 in the Senate Elections Committee. This bill would lead to more corporate money flowing into our election system and consolidates far too much power in the legislative leadership. I fear this could lead to my representatives being more responsible to leadership or corporat interests than my fellow constituents and me, along with democratic principal and values. I ask ____ to oppose or abstain on the bill as it is written. "
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