Hahn Calls for Broad Reforms

Mayor James K. Hahn, whose administration is facing investigations of political favoritism and corrupt contracting, said Thursday that he will propose sweeping new restrictions on political contributions, fundraising and lobbying in Los Angeles.

After initially resisting calls for reform, Hahn outlined a five-point plan that would ban city contractors and those seeking land-use permits from making political donations to elected officials.

At a time when local and federal authorities are investigating potential corruption in city contracting, the mayor also is proposing new restrictions on fundraising by members of city boards and commissions.

“I think people want to have confidence in government,” Hahn said as he prepared to send his plan to City Council members and other city leaders.

“The city should take a comprehensive rather than a piecemeal approach,” the mayor wrote in his letter to officials. “In particular, we must take greater steps to eliminate any perceived role that fundraising may play in gaining access to city elected officials.”

Until recently, Hahn has opposed a more limited proposal to prohibit members of city boards and commissions from raising money for local elected officials.

Hahn’s new proposal goes much further than a proposal before the City Council. His plan would make Los Angeles’ campaign finance regulations among the most restrictive in the nation, said campaign finance experts.

“By and large the public has more reason to be confident in the electoral system if they know special interests are not going to be involved in campaigns,” said Jim Knox, executive director of California Common Cause. Knox is among several reform advocates who said Thursday that they would applaud efforts to tighten the city’s campaign finance regulations.

Proposals to limit the role of lobbyists and political donors at City Hall have been rejected by the City Council before, however. And, experts said, it is unclear whether the proposal could survive 1st Amendment challenges to its bans on political expression.

Cal State Northridge political scientist Tom Hogan-Esch said Hahn, who faces reelection next year, may appear hypocritical pushing such a plan after he has already raised $1.3 million for his own campaign.

“It might look like he is setting up a new system of rules for his challengers,” Hogan-Esch said.

Hahn said Thursday that he was pushing the plan because he believes the city’s campaign finance system should be changed. But the mayor said he has no plans to return any of his donations, noting that other potential candidates have had months to enter the race.

Hahn’s plan would:

* Prohibit lobbyists, city contractors, those bidding for city contracts and those seeking land-use permits from contributing to or raising money for local elected officials, candidates, ballot measures, political parties or even charitable causes for which elected officials are raising money.

* Prohibit local elected officials or candidates from requesting commissioners to raise money for them.

* Prohibit political consultants from lobbying elected officials if they have worked on the officials’ campaigns.

* Prohibit lobbyists from raising money for local elected officials and candidates.

* Require elected officials to disclose their fundraising for other officials, candidates, political parties, ballot measures and charitable causes.

Hahn expressed confidence that the proposal could survive legal challenges and win support in City Hall.

The mayor said he expects details of the plan, such as a mechanism for tracking the thousands of people and companies who do business with the city, would be worked out in coming months.

“City government should be as transparent as possible,” Hahn said.

Several components of the mayor’s plan have been adopted by other cities nationwide, according to campaign finance experts. San Francisco has placed some limits on political donations by city contractors, for example.

The City Council had not been informed of the mayor’s plan Thursday, but the mayor’s office said it expected the proposal to be championed by council members who have been pushing reform.

The city attorney’s office will have to assess whether the broad new restrictions are defensible against free speech challenges.