CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : SACRAMENTO : Ads Dominated Ballot Spending

More than half of the $129 million spent on November, 1988, ballot measures was used to hire political consultants and purchase television and radio commercials, the state’s political watchdog agency said. The Fair Political Practices Commission, reviewing $124 million in itemized expenditures of $500 or more, reported that 35% of the money--$43.4 million --purchased broadcast advertising. About 21%--$26 million--paid for political consulting services. Another 16%--$20.2 million--involved monetary or in-kind contributions to other political committees, primarily among the 15 committees battling over five insurance initiatives on the 1988 ballot. The insurance battle over Propositions 100, 101, 103, 104 and 106 consumed $91.3 million in itemized expenditures of $500 or more, the FPPC reported.