The State : Lawsuit Filed Over Prop. 73

Three Democratic senators from Los Angeles filed suit seeking to overturn a provision of Proposition 73, the campaign finance reform initiative that prohibits politicians from sending mass mailings at taxpayers’ expense. Sens. Diane Watson, Art Torres and Bill Greene and six of their constituents charged in the lawsuit against the Senate Rules Committee that the ban is unconstitutional, in part because it violates their right to freedom of speech. They also contend that the ban on mailings violates a California Constitution provision prohibiting an initiative from addressing more than one subject, according to their attorney, Allan Browne. Proposition 73, approved by voters in June, places limits on the size of campaign contributions and prohibits candidates from transferring campaign funds among themselves. One provision prohibits mass mailings of 200 or more pieces at public expense.