Politics, Government and Business in Southern California's Inland Empire
By Patrick McGreevy
April 10, 2013, 2:20 p.m.
SACRAMENTO — The state’s campaign watchdog agency is supporting sweeping changes to California’s political finance laws, including proposals to lift the veil of secrecy from nonprofit groups that are spending record amounts of money on political campaigns in the state.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
April 10, 2013
The California Fair Political Practices Commission on Wednesday morning formally backed several bills aimed at strengthening the state’s campaign finance rules.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
Published: Sunday, Apr. 7, 2013 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
Last Modified: Sunday, Apr. 7, 2013 – 7:33 am
Dan Schnur came to Sacramento a couple of decades ago as a media spokesman for then-Gov. Pete Wilson.
Schnur later became chairman of the Fair Political Practices Commission and today directs the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at the University of Southern California.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
March 14, 2013
California Fair Political Practices Commission chairwoman Ann Ravel spoke to The Bee’s editorial board Thursday about how she plans to use the remainder of her tenure tracking money in California politics.
By Patrick McGreevy, Los Angeles Times
March 3, 2013
SACRAMENTO — California lawmakers accepted a trip to Brazil, fine cigars and crystal ducks, among many other gifts from corporations, trade groups and other special interests last year.
By Tracy Seipel
tseipel@mercurynews.com
Posted: 02/27/2013 06:39:59 PM PST
Updated: 02/27/2013 07:23:40 PM PST
Seeking to improve transparency and revolutionize the way residents interact with their government, the state’s political watchdog agency on Thursday will discuss a new application software that it says can help the public better gauge where potential conflicts of interest may exist with their elected officials.
By Steven Harmon
Bay Area News Group
Posted: 02/23/2013 07:21:00 PM PST
Updated: 02/24/2013 09:44:18 AM PST
SACRAMENTO — With no opponent last year, Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla glided through the election season. But the Martinez Democrat spent campaign money as if she were fighting for her political life.
Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/05/2013 08:55:45 PM PST
SAN BERNARDINO – There is no evidence that City Attorney James F. Penman accepted a gift and failed to disclose it in 2010, according to a letter from the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission.
By Dan Morain
dmorain@sacbee.com
Published: Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013 – 12:00 am | Page 13A
Upon counsel’s advice, political operative Joel Fox declined to discuss the $11 million that was funneled to his political action committee last fall, other than to say he had done nothing wrong, and that he had received a subpoena from the Fair Political Practices Commission.
By Laurel Rosenhall
lrosenhall@sacbee.com
Published: Friday, Feb. 1, 2013 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
California’s political watchdog agency is moving to crack down on lobbying rules that have allowed interest groups to hire former politicians as consultants and launch ad campaigns to push their agenda with virtually no financial disclosure.
Andrew Edwards
Posted: 01/28/2013 02:35:03 PM PST
Updated: 01/28/2013 06:05:01 PM PST
By Andrew Edwards
Staff Writer
Former Sen. Bob Dutton will not be fined for having a Chevrolet Tahoe registered in his own name as well as a political committee he formed to pay for expenses related to his work in the Legislature.
Posted: Thursday, January 17, 2013 7:00 am | Updated: 12:18 pm, Thu Jan 17, 2013.
BY NORBERTO SANTANA JR.
A committee set up by the Orange County Fair Board is recommending that the board urge Gov. Jerry Brown to investigate a shadowy statewide organization, the California Construction Authority, in connection with the failed effort during the Schwarzenegger administration to privatize the fairgrounds.
By Patrick McGreevy, Los Angeles Times
January 17, 2013
SACRAMENTO — The state agency that polices political spending led a national push to expose secret campaign cash from Arizona last fall. But it has a mixed record of pursuing rule breakers within California’s own political establishment.
By Laurel Rosenhall
lrosenhall@sacbee.com
Published: Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013 – 12:00 am | Page 1A
Last Modified: Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013 – 8:22 am
Interest groups that spend the most money trying to influence policy in California’s Capitol spend the bulk of it in secret, including hiring former politicians as consultants and launching ad campaigns to push their agenda with virtually no financial disclosure.
By David Siders
dsiders@sacbee.com
Published: Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
Ann Ravel recalled recently what many people thought of her last year, when Gov. Jerry Brown appointed her chairwoman of the commission overseeing campaign finance and ethics rules in California.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
December 20, 2012
Following the controversy in California’s initiative campaigns over an $11 million donation from a secretive, out-of-state group, Democratic lawmakers have begun introducing legislation to increase disclosure requirements and the power of the Fair Political Practices Commission to enforce them.
Thursday, December 20, 2012 – 09:00 a.m.
Another inference directed at past events in San Bernardino County courtesy of a comment coming out of the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC).
The second of its kind.
Sunday, December 16, 2012 – 09:30 a.m.
San Bernardino County is about to make good on its promise to have the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) take over enforcement of campaign finance laws in the county.
Administrator’s Note: Former San Bernardino County Third District Supervisor Neil Derry must be shaking his head at this one. He was criminally prosecuted for a $5,000 contribution. In this $40,000 affair, the Fair Political Practices Commission is handling the entire matter. The elements missing from this equation? San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael Ramos and Former Senior Assistant Attorney General Gary Schons. Ramos and Schons, who now works for the San Diego County District Attorney after backing Steve Cooley for AG, reportedly became good drinking buddies.
By Patrick McGreevy, Los Angeles Times
December 14, 2012
SACRAMENTO — State authorities have accused two brothers who served together as Republican legislators of illegally laundering $40,000 in political donations.
Government & Politics »
State watchdog agency also rules for disclosure on campaign emails
Written by Mark Walker
3:31 p.m., Dec. 13, 2012
Updated 3:39 p.m.
SAN DIEGO — The people who pay for petition drives in support of statewide ballot measures can no longer hide their identity, thanks to a regulation adopted by the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission on Thursday.
By DON THOMPSON – Associated Press
Thursday, Dec. 06, 2012 | 02:24 PM
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California’s campaign watchdog said Thursday it is reviewing whether a former state senator broke the law when he used campaign funds to purchase a vehicle formerly owned by the state.
By Don Thompson
Associated Press
Posted: 12/06/2012 06:23:55 AM PST
Updated: 12/06/2012 06:24:59 AM PST
SACRAMENTO — Numerous California lawmakers repaired or upgraded their state-provided vehicles at taxpayers’ expense in the final weeks before the one-of-its-kind perk was ending, then later bought those vehicles for personal use.
Administrator’s Note: Even though this article focuses on out-of-area officials, it still raises one question. Why weren’t they charged with felonies as people here in San Bernardino County were? The article exposes a sharp contrast in tactics, especially when politics and revenge are involved.
Money & Politics | Daily Report
November 21, 2012 | Lance Williams
Two San Joaquin Valley lawmakers have been accused of laundering $40,000 in a scheme to dodge California’s tough limits on political contributions.
November 5, 2012
California regulators and attorneys said today they are seriously weighing next steps – including criminal charges – against parties involved in the $11 million contribution whose known trail leads through three different out-of-state nonprofits.
By Chris Megerian, Los Angeles Times
November 3, 2012
SACRAMENTO — A Friday decision by a California appeals court has made it increasingly unlikely that voters will know before election day who is behind a controversial $11-million campaign donation from an Arizona nonprofit group.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
November 1, 2012
An Arizona nonprofit that spent $11 million last month on two high-profile California initiative battles appealed an unfavorable trial court decision today, for now blocking the state from obtaining transaction records as requested.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
October 30, 2012
A Sacramento Superior Court judge tentatively ruled Tuesday that an obscure Arizona nonprofit must document the source of its $11 million initiative contribution, siding with the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission.
By Kevin Yamamura
kyamamura@sacbee.com
Published: Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
Last Modified: Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012 – 8:12 am
Attorneys representing an obscure Arizona nonprofit that spent $11 million this month on California initiative wars told a court Monday that the federal Citizens United campaign-speech ruling is one reason the group can shield its donors.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
October 25, 2012
A Sacramento Superior Court judge scheduled a court date for Tuesday — one week before the Nov. 6 election — to consider whether an Arizona-based nonprofit must provide transaction data related to an $11 million donation made this month.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
September 7, 2012
The Fair Political Practices Commission is asking Gov. Jerry Brown to tighten disclosure rules for independent expenditure committees through a bill that cleared the Legislature with bipartisan support.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 08/21/2012 02:50:07 PM PDT
A new ordinance approved by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday limits campaign contributions for all candidates for county elected office to $3,900, mirroring campaign-finance limits for state legislators.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012 – 10:30 a.m.
It’s not often when you can witness a justice system being abused.
Abused in plain sight for that matter!
But, in San Bernardino County, a place that operates more like a banana republic than a state subdivision, it’s routine.
Joe Nelson and Neil Nisperos, Staff Writers
Created: 07/24/2012 08:00:34 PM PDT
Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law Tuesday a bill that will allow the state Fair Political Practices Commission to enforce new campaign finance rules in San Bernardino County.
It is the first time the state’s political watchdog will contract with a county to enforce its campaign contribution limits.
Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/09/2012 05:42:03 PM PDT
A bill inspired by the need to dilute the influence of big money in San Bernardino County is awaiting Gov. Jerry Brown’s signature.
The bill authored by Assemblyman Paul Cook, R-Yucaipa, would provide a more independent watchdog – the California Fair Political Practices Commission – to enforce San Bernardino County’s new campaign finance ordinance.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012 – 11:55 a.m.
Apparently Former San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Chairman and Board of Supervisors candidate James Ramos knows no bounds.
Or it arrogance?
By Howard Mintz
hmintz@mercurynews.com
Posted: 05/18/2012 05:41:38 AM PDT
Updated: 05/18/2012 05:42:00 AM PDT
California’s judges will now have to post all their financial disclosure information in cyberspace.
In a unanimous decision, the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission on Thursday approved a rule that requires California’s more than 1,700 judges to post their disclosure forms on the Internet, despite objections from judicial leaders that it could jeopardize their privacy and security.
Published: Friday, May. 4, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 4A
The director of California’s political watchdog agency is shelving her proposal to require bloggers to disclose payments they receive from political campaigns.
By Guy McCarthy
May 2, 2012
The campaign for James Ramos, candidate for county supervisor in the Third District that includes Redlands and Loma Linda, released part of a letter Wednesday from the Fair Political Practices Commission stating his disclosure of economic interests are appropriate.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012 – 10:00 a.m.
The flap over the Form 700 – Statements of Economic Disclosure Forms filed by San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors candidate and former San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Chairman James Ramos in his various capacities as San Bernardino Community College District Trustee, State Board of Education Member and San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors candidate, raise really one main question.
Ramos currently functions in all three capacities and recently surrendered his Tribal Chairman title.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/30/2012 05:26:19 PM PDT
View: Complaint
A complaint has been filed against San Bernardino County supervisor candidate and former San Manuel tribal chairman James Ramos, alleging that he failed to report his income and real property interests on state campaign disclosure forms.
The complaint, dated April 3 and received by the state Fair Political Practices Commission on April 12, alleges that Ramos failed to report on his form 700 Statement of Economic Interest a house he owns in Big Bear Lake and shares of stock in Pfizer Inc., a pharmaceutical company, and General Electric Co.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
April 20, 2012
Bracing for a flood of independent expenditures for candidates or causes in this year’s elections, California’s political watchdog agency is seeking to tighten state law to require more personal liability.
By Jim Sanders
jsanders@sacbee.com
Published: Friday, Apr. 20, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
Paid political attack dogs always have found safe haven in the free-wheeling anonymity of the Internet, but California is set to challenge that.
The leader of the state’s political watchdog agency said Thursday that she wants bloggers to be required to disclose payments received from campaigns.
BY JIM MILLER
jmiller@pe.com
Published: 17 April 2012 06:03 PM
SACRAMENTO — Scandal-scarred San Bernardino County wants to become the first local government in California to outsource an ethics program to the state Fair Political Practices Commission.
First, though, the county needs legislation allowing the state watchdog agency to provide the service, and a key deadline is in less than two weeks.
California game official avoids fine from cougar hunt
The Associated Press
Created: 04/12/2012 03:49:36 PM PDT
California regulators on Thursday issued a warning letter to the president of the state Fish and Game Commission over a mountain lion hunting trip he took earlier this year, but they decided against issuing a fine.
March 26th, 2012, 11:14 am
Posted by BRIAN JOSEPH, Sacramento Correspondent
Four years ago, the Enforcement Division of the state Fair Political Practices Commission had a sizable backlog of investigations.
The division, which enforces political ethics rules in areas like campaign finance and conflicts of interest, had 263 open cases that were more than two years old in 2008.
BY LAURIE LUCAS
STAFF WRITER
llucas@pe.com
Published: 15 March 2012 04:04 PM
A state commission has fined a member of the Canyon Lake City Council $6,000 for failing to disqualify himself from three governmental decisions in 2008 and 2009 relating to a proposed halt on hillside development in which he had a financial interest.
The California Fair Political practices Commission in Sacramento penalized Jordan Ehrenkranz, who is now mayor, for violating the Political Reform Act.
PolitiCal
On politics in the Golden State
March 15, 2012 | 4:31 pm
The state Fair Political Practices Commission decided Thursday to delay posting financial interest statements by 2,500 elected judges on the Internet after representatives said they feared the easy access to personal information would put them in danger.
Derry
Neil Derry has paid $15,000 in fines since pleading guilty in July
By Joe Nelson, The (San Bernardino County) Sun
Posted: 03/12/2012 12:31:14 PM PDT
The state’s Fair Political Practices Commission is poised to close its file on San Bernardino County Supervisor Neil Derry, who in July pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of failing to report a $5,000 campaign contribution.
The Commission is scheduled to consider the action at its Thursday board meeting.
Peter Fimrite
Saturday, March 3, 2012
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A formal complaint has been filed accusing the California Fish and Game Commission president who shot a cougar in Idaho of violating California law by accepting a free hunt, complete with dogs and a tracker.
Daniel Richards, a San Bernardino County Republican who has been a commissioner since 2008, killed the cat at a ranch that normally charges thousands for the privilege, according to the complaint filed with the California Fair Political Practices Commission.
By Patrick McGreevy, Los Angeles Times
February 20, 2012
Reporting from Sacramento— Dozens of city officials throughout California have voted to appoint themselves to local boards that pay stipends of up to $5,000 annually, a practice state watchdogs say violates conflict-of-interest laws.
The Fair Political Practices Commission has eased restrictions on gifts to lawmakers, called fewer open meetings and stopped notifying the public of pending investigations. Some good-government advocates are angry.
By Patrick McGreevy, Los Angeles Times
February 13, 2012, 9:59 p.m.
Reporting from Sacramento — Three decades after Gov. Jerry Brown played a key role in creating a state political watchdog, the panel — now dominated by his appointees — has retreated from its aggressive approach to ethics enforcement.
PolitiCal
On politics in the Golden State
February 3, 2012 | 2:46 pm
A veteran attorney for the state’s political watchdog agency has been named acting executive director, addressing concern by some good-government activists that the position had long been vacant.
John W. Wallace, who has been the state Fair Political Practices Commission’s assistant general counsel, was approved by the panel to serve as its top staffer on an interim basis without any increase in pay.
By Patrick McGreevy, Los Angeles Times
December 8, 2011, 9:39 p.m.
Reporting from Sacramento— State lawmakers and city council members can accept expensive gifts from lobbyists without disclosure if they are dating, and can receive meals and lodging in lobbyists’ homes without telling the public, under rules approved Thursday by the state ethics agency.
By Torey Van Oot |
tvanoot@sacbee.com
Published: Thursday, Nov. 24, 2011 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
The gift-giving season is always tricky for California legislators and other public officials, who must disclose the goodies they get to comply with the state’s Political Reform Act.
Now the state Fair Political Practices Commission is trying to rewrite the rules.
November 20, 2011 | Will Evans
Ann Ravel, Gov. Jerry Brown’s pick to lead the state Fair Political Practices Commission, has been on the job less than a year but is moving quickly and provoking strong reactions.
By Torey Van Oot
tvanoot@sacbee.com
Published: Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
The new chairwoman of the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission has come under fire from a fellow appointee to the five-member panel, who said she is working to “help politicians who don’t like the FPPC regulations.”
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
November 10, 2011
By Laurel Rosenhall and Torey Van Oot
The Fair Political Practices Commission decided today to levy a $30,000 fine against lobbyist Frank Molina , scrapping an earlier proposal to increase his penalty to $50,000.
BY JIM MILLER
STAFF WRITER
jmiller@pe.com
Published: 04 November 2011 12:25 PM
The San Bernardino Community College District has agreed to pay $2,000 as punishment for sending a newsletter that violated state political reform laws.
PolitiCal
On politics in the Golden State
November 4, 2011 | 4:37 pm
The state’s ethics watchdog panel is considering what its chairwoman calls “a complete overhaul” of regulations on gifts to public officials, and some of the proposals drew objections Friday from open-government advocates.
Capital Notes — From KQED’s John Myers
October 31, 2011, 4:30 pm • Posted by John Myers
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KQED/John Myers
A legal analysis by the state’s campaign finance watchdog agency says that donations never deposited into candidate accounts by accused treasurer Kinde Durkee can be solicited a second time.
PolitiCal
On politics in the Golden State
October 13, 2011 | 1:15 pm
The ability to contribute to your favorite California political candidates will soon be just a text message away, after the state’s ethics agency took a step Thursday to bring campaigning into the 21st century.
October 13, 2011 | 5:25 pm
The state Fair Political Practices Commission continued to weigh whether to allow candidates and committees to ask their donors to give more to replace millions of dollars that is probably lost in what the chairwoman called “the greatest campaign treasurer fraud in the history of the country.”
By John Howard | 10/13/11 12:00 AM PST
For years, lawmakers have battered the Fair Political Practices Commission, the state’s campaign law enforcer spawned by the Watergate scandals.
Rutherford
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/11/2011 07:00:22 PM PDT
A potentially illegal campaign contribution to San Bernardino County Supervisor Janice Rutherford has prompted her to require all donors to her campaign to acknowledge that the money they are contributing is their own.
By Torey Van Oot
tvanoot@sacbee.com
Published: Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
The state political watchdog agency is set to consider next month adopting substantial changes to rules governing gifts to public officials and staff, including exemptions from disclosure for presents received from former spouses, dating partners and longtime friends.
Monday, October 3, 2011 – 05;30 a.m.
You’ve gotta hand it to the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors for their campaign finance reform proposals.
The biggest idea is a cap on contributions to the candidates or officials themselves.
By Patrick McGreevy, Los Angeles Times
October 1, 2011
Reporting from Sacramento— The head of the state’s ethics agency Friday proposed new measures to prevent fraud in the handling of political funds in response to a federal investigation of Kinde Durkee, who is suspected of embezzling from campaign accounts she controlled.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Created: 09/28/2011 06:48:04 PM PDT
A proposal for campaign finance reform in San Bernardino County has raised the eyebrows of government ethics advocates and experts, who question its reliance on the state to enforce campaign finance limits.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Created: 09/27/2011 12:42:57 PM PDT
A proposal to limit how much money groups can give to candidates seeking county elected office was unanimously approved Tuesday by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors.
The vote gives staff the go-ahead to prepare an ordinance placing a cap on campaign contributions.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 09/26/2011 06:05:23 PM PDT
The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors today is expected to take its first step in having an ordinance drafted that would establish campaign-contribution limits for candidates seeking elected office in the county.
PolitiCal
On politics in the Golden State
September 19, 2011 | 1:53 pm
The state’s ethics watchdog agency has set a meeting next week to consider whether campaign finance limits and spending report deadlines should be temporarily waived for politicians affected by the alleged misuse of funds by campaign treasurer Kinde Durkee.
By Jon Ortiz
jortiz@sacbee.com
Published: Thursday, Sep. 15, 2011 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
It could have been worse. A lot worse.
Next week, a state watchdog committee will take up 16 cases involving current and former employees and board members of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System who failed to report gifts they had received from business associates.
September 13th, 2011, 11:30 am · posted by BRIAN JOSEPH, Sacramento Correspondent
State and federal campaign finance laws may prevent some of Kinde Durkee‘s clients from replacing the money they’ve allegedly lost, the Orange County Register has learned.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011 – 06:00 a.m.
The state’s political watchdog is set to levy a fine against a local consultant for improperly formatting a voter guide.
By Marc Lifsher, Los Angeles Times
September 13, 2011
Reporting from Sacramento— Board members and officers of the long-troubled California Public Employees’ Retirement System, the nation’s largest pension fund, could be fined thousands of dollars for not properly reporting gifts received from investment firms.
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