Campaign Gift Limit of $10,000 Passes Senate by Bare Minimum

Legislation imposing a $10,000 limit on the size of campaign contributions received from a single source in statewide, legislative and local election races squeaked out of the state Senate.

A 27-10 vote, the exact two-thirds majority required for approval, sent the bill (SB 753), by Senate President Pro Tem Bill Lockyer (D-Hayward), to the Assembly, where it faces an uphill fight.

The measure is part of a four-bill campaign reform package Lockyer is pushing that would, among other things, provide partial public financing for legislative campaigns, accompanied by strict contribution and expenditure limits.

Lockyer said more than half of the $37 million raised for last year’s elections by Gov. Pete Wilson and his Democratic opponent, Kathleen Brown, came from contributions of $10,000 or more.

The limit also would apply to campaign committees controlled by the candidate. A violation would be punishable by fines equal to the amount of the contribution received.

GOVERNOR

* Flood Damage: Signed into law two bills (AB 1X and AB 3X) by Assemblywoman Valerie Brown (D-Sonoma) and Assemblyman Brooks Firestone (D-Los Olivos), respectively, allowing taxpayers to carry forward for up to five years 100% of any disaster losses from last winter’s storms and floods that are not covered by insurance.

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

* Child Pornography: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 67-2 vote a bill (AB 1881) by Assemblyman Michael J. Machado (D-Linden) elevating all crimes involving child pornography to felonies, which permits longer prison terms.

SENATE

Floor Action

* Gangs and Drugs: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 22-10 vote a bill (SB 1242) by Sen. Richard Polanco (D-Los Angeles) allocating $2.5 million in state funds to the Hope in Youth Gang and Drug Reduction Program in Los Angeles County.

* Offshore Oil Drilling: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 22-13 vote a resolution (SJR 25) by Sen. Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) requesting that the President and Congress maintain the 14-year moratorium on new offshore oil drilling in federal waters more than three miles from the California coast.