‘Special Interest’ Donations to Foes of Initiative Cited

Supporters of a June ballot measure that would impose strict limits on campaign contributions charged Wednesday that Gov. George Deukmejian and the top legislative leaders of both parties who oppose the initiative raised more than $20 million in the last three years from special interest groups.

Walter Zelman, a lobbyist for Common Cause and a leader in the campaign for Proposition 68, said the huge amount of money raised by the five politicians explains why they have united in opposing the ballot measure.

“No one in Sacramento raises more money from special interests than the five individuals who came out against our proposition last week,” Zelman said. “Their opposition only symbolizes the larger problem, which is that we have a campaign financing system that’s gone completely awry.”

Response to Attack

At press conferences held around the state, backers of Proposition 68 attempted to strike back at Deukmejian, Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco), Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles), Senate minority leader Ken Maddy (R-Fresno) and Assembly minority leader Pat Nolan (R-Glendale), who banded together Friday to attack the initiative as a flawed measure that would waste taxpayers’ money and help wealthy candidates.

Proposition 68 would limit the amount of money legislative candidates could spend in their campaigns, restrict the amount contributors could give to candidates and provide matching tax dollars for qualified candidates.

The sweeping initiative would also prohibit candidates from transfering campaign money among themselves, ban contributions in non-election years and limit the size of honorariums and gifts legislators could accept.

Sponsored by businessman Walter Gerken, the measure has the support of many business leaders, Common Cause, the League of Women Voters and a broad range of consumer, minority and environmentalist groups.

According to data compiled by Common Cause from the five politician’s campaign statements, Deukmejian collected $9 million in contributions from special interest groups, such as the Western Growers Assn. and the California Correctional Peace Officers Assn. from 1985 to 1987.

Payments Cited

In the same period, Zelman said special interest groups with an interest in legislation gave $4.9 million to Brown, $3.5 million to Roberti and $2.2 million to Nolan. Maddy, who became GOP Senate leader just last year, received $641,000 from special interest groups, Zelman said.

The largest special interest contributors to the legislators were the California Medical Assn., the California Trial Lawyers Assn., the California Teachers Assn. and the California Beer Wholesalers Assn., he said.

“We think the only way to stop it, the only way to take the power out of the hands of the special interests and put it in the hands of the people is to pass Proposition 68 and to limit both the spending and the contributions,” Zelman said.

Kevin Brett, Deukmejian’s press secretary, said the contributions received by the Republican governor had nothing to do with his opposition to the initiative.

Deukmejian is a longtime opponent of public financing of campaigns, Brett noted, and believes the initiative may be unconstitutional because it would restrict the rights of California citizens.

Campaign Not Affected

Brett also pointed out that the measure would have no effect on the governor’s campaign efforts because it affects only legislative races.

“Proposition 68 has absolutely nothing to do with future gubernatorial campaigns,” he said. “Mr. Zelman would be well advised to go back and read his proposition before he makes ridiculous charges.”

Brett said the supporters of Proposition 68 are attempting to put the best face they can on the opposition of the state’s political leaders to their measure.

But Zelman said: “Politically, I think they made a colossal mistake. They are out of touch enough to think their united opposition is going to hurt us badly and I think quite the opposite is true.”