Chuck DeVore On Prop. 77 Campaign

Assemblyman Chuck DeVore penned this column examining where Prop. 77's support -- and opposition -- is coming from:

California Redistricting Reform Draws $23 Million of Support and Opposition

You can tell much about a measure by its opponents.  In California, with its almost yearly crop of ballot propositions, this is especially true.

Proposition 77, the redistricting reform initiative backed by Governor Schwarzenegger, Common Cause (a liberal group), and the California Republican Party is looking like it may pass over major financial opposition of a number of interesting people and groups.

There are three committees specifically opposed to Prop. 77 and a fourth that’s opposed to four of the initiatives backed by the Governor.  Together, they have raised $14.8 million to counter the $8 million raised by the Governor's allies.

Who are these people and groups opposed to having competitive and fair legislative and congressional districts?

One of "No on 77" committees has raised $7,915,500 so far, the bulk of it, $4,250,000, coming from Hollywood's Stephen Bing, the wealthy scion of wealthy scions described by Mother Jones magazine as, "a notorious playboy."

Bernard L. Schwartz also opposes Prop. 77.  Schwartz is the former CEO of Loral Space, a company that was fined $20 million by the State Department in 2002 for teaching the Communist Chinese how to build more accurate nuclear missiles.  Schwartz gave about $4 million to Democrats and 527s opposed to President Bush over the past two years, so we should be relieved that he only shelled out $25,000 against Prop. 77.

As expected, California's state Democrat politicians are opposing Prop. 77, with $480,000 chipped in so far.

Congressional Democrats from all over America are rushing to the fight against Prop. 77 too, with 33 separate checks totaling $151,000 from politicians who must really care about California such as, Murtha of Pennsylvania, Hooley of Oregon, Green, Reyes, Hinojosa and Johnson of Texas, Nadler of New York, Inslee of Washington, Obey of Wisconsin, Clay of Missouri, Tierney of Massachusetts, Berry and Ross of Arkansas, Sabo of Minnesota, Davis of Tennessee, Chandler of Kentucky, Stupak of Michigan, Cramer of Alabama, Schakowsky of Illinois, and Larson of Connecticut.  With this unbroken list of liberals in opposition to Prop. 77, it kind of makes one wonder what the heck California Republican Congressman John Doolittle was thinking when he joined this liberal wrecking crew in opposition to Prop. 77.

Trial attorneys are also busy opposing Prop. 77.  The Association Of Trial Lawyers Of America wrote a $200,000 check with more than 30 slip and fall firms throwing in another $300,000 for good measure.

Labor unions are also weighing in against Prop. 77, with almost $1 million so far.

In spite of all this spending against Prop. 77, opinion polls show the initiative may win.  And, a Prop. 77 victory combined with a win for Prop 75, the public sector union "Paycheck Protection" measure will provide a foundation to completely remake California politics and reform state government.

Speaking of John Doolittle, I received a cleverly-package mailer from Citizens for Good Government this weekend. It came in an enveloped designed to make the recipient think it was something to do with jury duty and it behooved them to open it:

Inside, was a a slip of paper with scare verbiage from Rep. John Doolittle about how Prop. 77 is "bad for the Republican Party." Of course, it is the current gerrymander that is bad for the CA GOP and good for Rep. Doolittle.

Then, there's this little card that intimates to the GOP recipient that Arnold is actually against Prop. 77:

Sometimes, you just gotta admire the creative minds behind political mail.

UPDATE: Assemblyman DeVore sent me this update:



Follow up on the ballot proposition money race.

There are two broad categories of propositions on the ballot on November 8th.  One category is that of reform vs. status quo.  For the most part, liberals are opposing reform and Governor Schwarzenegger and his allies are supporting reform.  Propositions 73 through 77 fall into this category.  The other category is that of business or anti-business propositions.  Propositions 78-80 are in this latter category.

What's been raised so far and what's the cash on hand for each broad category as of today?

Liberals have amassed $102.3 million in opposition to Props. 73-77 with $7.1 million cash on hand.

The Governor and his allies have raised $36.8 million to support Props. 73-77 with $1.4 million cash on hand.

As for the business initiatives, the forces of socialism and regulation have amassed $67.5 million to support Props. 79 and 80 with $1.6 million cash on hand.

Business has raised $120 million to support Prop. 78 and oppose Props. 79 and 80 with $3.8 million cash on hand.

If you merge these together, assuming that to be pro-business is to be pro-reform and a friend of the Governor while the opposite is true, then the combined funds raised of $326.6 million breaks out like this: $169.8 million against business and reform with $156.8 million for reform and pro-business.  Cash on hand: $8.7 million for the liberals and $5.2 million for reform.

Comments

[Rusty the Bailiff]

What is even more interesting about this particular mailer is that the address listed for this campaign committee, is also the address listed for a number of other Democrat clubs, organizations and campaign committees.

Check it out on the SoS site as this story unfolds.

[Ted Lawrence]

Actually I think the address is for Kinde Durkee a professional campaign treasurer who works for candidates in both parties. She shouldn't be tarred with the contents of this mailer.

[Rusty the Bailiff]

Actually the majority, if not super majority of her clients are Democrats.

I am sure she is a fine campaign treasurer, that isn't the issue. The issue is that this mailer is really a Democrat front piece.

[Ted Lawrence]

I agree that the issue is the mailer. However, Durkee works for anybody that pays her. Kaptain is the person putting out the slate.

[MrWhipple]

Loretta Sanchez sent the following email to her supporters on Monday 10/31.

Note the real issue behind her oppposition, in bold. Loretta and her cat are running scared.

Dear Friends,

In this time of challenges facing our country, it is difficult if not impossible to focus on politics; but recent events are forcing me to seek your help.

As you know, Governor Schwarzeneggar has called for a November 8th special election --- a little more than one week away. Under the guise of so-called "reform", the Governor has placed a slate of initiatives on the ballot to promote and implement his "policy agenda", which is nothing more than usurping the authority of the Democratic-controlled California legislature. I am certain you are aware of one of those initiatives -- Proposition 77 --- a re-districting measure which would strip the responsibility of drawing boundaries for Congressional and state legislative districts away from state legislators and give the authority to a panel of retired judges.

Only a few short weeks ago, support for Prop 77 was just 32%. But because of an aggressive and targeted statewide media blitz, and because the Governor contributed $1.5 million of his own money and another $500,000 from one of his campaign committees, support for Prop 77 is gaining strength --- the threat of its passage is becoming more of a reality with each passing day. PASSAGE OF PROPOSITION 77 WILL POSE A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO MY RE-ELECTION EFFORTS.

FACTS:

• According to an article appearing in a recent edition of The Hill newspaper of Capitol Hill and under the heading "Nunes Hope to Pick Up Seats in California", ..."Nune's recruiting effort would mark the first time in years that Republicans have mounted full-throttled campaigns against Democratic Reps. Loretta Sanchez, Joe Baca and Lois Capps, all of whom have been mentioned as potential targets."
• Proposition 77 is an expensive, mid-decade redistricting plan using out-dated, five-year-old census data, ignoring potential changes to ethnic, racial, gender, and social & economic diversity;
• George Bush won my District in 2004 --- 50%-49%, after losing in 2002 - 56%-41%, indicating Democratic registration has declined since the last re-districting. Re-drawing the 47th CD will further erode my base.

I need your help today to fend off proponents of Prop 77 in order to continue organizing a ground campaign to fight this measure. Please consider making a contribution to my campaign today by clicking on the link below.

Contribute! [linked]

If you would prefer to send a personal check, please make it out to The Committee to Re-Elect Loretta Sanchez and mail to 604 South Harbor Boulevard, Santa Ana, CA, 92704.

I am deeply appreciative of all that you do for me.

Loretta Sanchez

Paid for and authorized by the Committee to Re-Elect Loretta Sanchez. Contributions are not tax deductible for Federal Income tax purposes. Corporate contributions are prohibited. FEC ID#: C00326264.

Karen A. Hinks
Finance Director
COMMITTEE TO RE-ELECT LORETTA SANCHEZ
604 South Harbor Boulevard
Santa Ana, CA 92704
714-839-4431 (O)
714-615-2741 (Mobile)
714-839-4634 (F)

[Allan Bartlett]

That gal needs to be sent into retirement. She is an embarrassment to Orange County. They should redistrict her out of exsistence if 77 passes.

Powder Blue Report

I know it's only been about half an hour, but I'm hoping Jubal will be enforcing his anti-profanity policy evenly and give Mr. Bartlett a stern warning.
Otherwise, it will become clear that namecalling is only acceptable if the target is a Democratic elected official.

[MrWhipple]

Actually Allen, Loretta's cat, Gretzky, is a male. So your description of him as a "b***h" is inaccurate.

[Allan Bartlett]

my bad

[Jubal]

Allan:

I'm going to subsitute a more appropriate word into your comment. Please refrain from the profanities.

[Curious]

Who picks the Judges? The Governor?

[Jason]

Curious: as I understand it, the legislators do - but Democrats have to pick Republicans and Republicans have to pick Democrats. In the best case, the panel will be as non-partisan as it can possibly be. In the worst case, they'll be partisan but they'll do no worse than has been done already by the legislators themselves.