Vote Gifts Create Idea of Influence, 2 Groups Charge

SACRAMENTO — Releasing a report showing that state legislators raised a record-high $25 million in campaign contributions in the 1987 non-election year, two citizens’ action groups Wednesday charged that the lawmakers are feeding a public perception that such money is given to influence votes on bills instead of elections.

Supporters of a June ballot proposition that would ban off-year campaign fund-raising, Common Cause and the Consumers Union, said those contributions almost always go to incumbent lawmakers, and mostly come from special-interest groups that want to pass or kill pending legislation. They said the $25 million was $8 million more than the $16.9 million raised during the 1985 non-election year, and more than four times the $5.8 million raised in 1977.

Potential legislative candidates managed to collect only $401,547 last year, according to a study.

“Proposition 68 (would) prohibit off-year contributions, perhaps the single most dangerous influence on the democratic process today,” said Fredric Woocher, spokesman for Taxpayers to Limit Campaign Spending. “These contributions almost always come from special-interest lobbying groups and they almost always go to incumbent legislators. There is a growing public perception that these contributions are made to influence laws, not elections.”

The June ballot initiative supported by the two groups is sponsored by Walter B. Gerken, former chairman of the Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Co. It also would limit legislative contributions and expenditures, authorize partial public financing of campaigns and ban the transfer of funds among legislative candidates.

A competing reform measure on the same ballot, sponsored by Assemblyman Ross Johnson (R-La Habra) and Sens. Quentin L. Kopp (I-San Francisco) and Joseph B. Montoya (D-Whittier), would limit, but not prohibit, non-election year contributions and would not impose expenditure limits.

It would, however, cover all state and local elected officials instead of just legislative candidates, limit contributions, prohibit public financing and ban transfers of money between candidates.

Four state legislators raised more than $1 million in 1987, according to the study, led by Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco), who collected $1.85 million.

Second only to Brown was Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles) with $1.68 million. Assembly Republican Leader Pat Nolan of Glendale was next with $1.38 million, followed by former Senate GOP Caucus Chairman John Seymour of Anaheim with $1.02 million.

These funds are routinely doled out to incumbent colleagues who need financial help in close contests or to try to unseat opponents.

State senators collected an average of $246,760 last year; Assembly members raised an average of $190,340. More than two-thirds of the 120 legislators reported raising more than $100,000.

Twenty of the 40 upper house positions and all 80 lower house seats are up for grabs at the polls this year.

“Legislators now focus too much of their attention on raising money,” said Walter Zelman, executive director of Common Cause. “Fund-raising for the next election starts the day after the last election.”