Proposition 25 Political Contributions

Gov. Gray Davis, who in his first year of office has been the principal beneficiary of California's no-limit campaign laws, has quietly raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to oppose Proposition 25, which would severely restrict fund-raising. Publicly Davis, who last year collected a record $13.2 million for his own political treasury, has said only that he opposes the Proposition 25 reforms because they favor wealthy candidates and would require some public financing of campaigns.

In a rare defection, a group of Democratic stalwarts Monday denounced their party's decision to contribute heavily to a campaign to defeat a political reform initiative on Tuesday's ballot. At a news conference in Los Angeles, former Secretary of State March Fong Eu, longtime Democratic financial backers Stanley Sheinbaum and Max Palevsky and pollster Pat Caddell accused the party hierarchy of being out of step with rank-and-file members who overwhelmingly support campaign finance reform.

One day after a Los Angeles businessman donated $1 million to support Proposition 25, state Democrats dropped $500,000 into a last-minute effort to defeat the measure that would cut off large contributions to candidates. Although both major political parties have opposed the March 7 ballot initiative to limit campaign funding, the infusion from the California Democratic Party was the first time a party organization had spent such a substantial sum to stop a reform.

One day after a Los Angeles businessman donated $1 million to support Proposition 25, state Democrats dropped $500,000 into a last-minute effort to defeat the measure that would cut off large contributions to candidates. Although both major political parties have opposed the March 7 ballot initiative to limit campaign funding, the infusion from the California Democratic Party was the first time a party organization had spent such a substantial sum to stop a reform.

In a rare defection, a group of Democratic stalwarts Monday denounced their party's decision to contribute heavily to a campaign to defeat a political reform initiative on Tuesday's ballot. At a news conference in Los Angeles, former Secretary of State March Fong Eu, longtime Democratic financial backers Stanley Sheinbaum and Max Palevsky and pollster Pat Caddell accused the party hierarchy of being out of step with rank-and-file members who overwhelmingly support campaign finance reform.

Gov. Gray Davis on Friday announced his opposition to the controversial anti-gay marriage initiative on the March 7 ballot supported by Roman Catholic bishops and the Mormon church in California. Proposition 22, criticized as an attack on gays and lesbians, would bar California from recognizing any marriage except that between a man and a woman, including those performed in other states.

One of Gov. Gray Davis' richest and most loyal contributors shocked the political establishment Tuesday with a $1-million donation to the Proposition 25 campaign finance reform effort. Longtime Democratic patron Max Palevsky of Los Angeles said he is sickened by the "corruption of the electoral process" caused by enormous sums being funneled to political campaigns. He made the donation to give the March 7 ballot measure a fighting chance in the preelection advertising war, he said.

Max Palevsky knows something about political campaign financing. He has given millions over the years to Democratic candidates--Robert Kennedy, George McGovern, L.A. Mayor Tom Bradley, Gov. Gray Davis. . . . In fact, Palevsky gave Davis his first political job--as chief fund-raiser for Bradley's 1973 mayoral campaign. During the last decade, the so-called "fat cat"--a Beverly Hills investor who made his fortune in computers--has donated $150,000 to Davis' political ventures.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, borne by a rising tide of voter appreciation of her terms in office, holds an imposing lead over her Republican opponents as California's primary nears, a new Los Angeles Times poll has found. Californians also strongly support ballot initiatives that would allow expanded gambling on Native American lands and would restrict marriages to those between men and women, the poll found.

On March 7, California voters will decide if the fund-raising practices of the state's highest elected officials should be illegal. In the past year, Gov. Gray Davis raised an unprecedented $13.2 million in political money. Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush took a $93,350 contribution from a company he regulates. And Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa (D-Los Angeles) transferred $1 million from his campaign accounts to his successor, Bob Hertzberg (D-Sherman Oaks).

Democratic U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, borne by a rising tide of voter appreciation of her terms in office, holds an imposing lead over her Republican opponents as California's primary nears, a new Los Angeles Times poll has found. Californians also strongly support ballot initiatives that would allow expanded gambling on Native American lands and would restrict marriages to those between men and women, the poll found.

Max Palevsky knows something about political campaign financing. He has given millions over the years to Democratic candidates--Robert Kennedy, George McGovern, L.A. Mayor Tom Bradley, Gov. Gray Davis. . . . In fact, Palevsky gave Davis his first political job--as chief fund-raiser for Bradley's 1973 mayoral campaign. During the last decade, the so-called "fat cat"--a Beverly Hills investor who made his fortune in computers--has donated $150,000 to Davis' political ventures.

One of Gov. Gray Davis' richest and most loyal contributors shocked the political establishment Tuesday with a $1-million donation to the Proposition 25 campaign finance reform effort. Longtime Democratic patron Max Palevsky of Los Angeles said he is sickened by the "corruption of the electoral process" caused by enormous sums being funneled to political campaigns. He made the donation to give the March 7 ballot measure a fighting chance in the preelection advertising war, he said.

Gov. Gray Davis, who in his first year of office has been the principal beneficiary of California's no-limit campaign laws, has quietly raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to oppose Proposition 25, which would severely restrict fund-raising. Publicly Davis, who last year collected a record $13.2 million for his own political treasury, has said only that he opposes the Proposition 25 reforms because they favor wealthy candidates and would require some public financing of campaigns.

On March 7, California voters will decide if the fund-raising practices of the state's highest elected officials should be illegal. In the past year, Gov. Gray Davis raised an unprecedented $13.2 million in political money. Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush took a $93,350 contribution from a company he regulates. And Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa (D-Los Angeles) transferred $1 million from his campaign accounts to his successor, Bob Hertzberg (D-Sherman Oaks).

Gov. Gray Davis on Friday announced his opposition to the controversial anti-gay marriage initiative on the March 7 ballot supported by Roman Catholic bishops and the Mormon church in California. Proposition 22, criticized as an attack on gays and lesbians, would bar California from recognizing any marriage except that between a man and a woman, including those performed in other states.