TO: Interested Parties
FROM: Kim Alexander, California Voter Foundation
DATE: June 4, 1997
RE: CA State Senate Passes Online Disclosure BillHi Folks:
Today the California State Senate passed SB49/Karnette, a bill that would mandate electronic filing of, and online access to political disclosure records. Although the bill was scheduled to be taken up by special order at 10:30 a.m. this morning, the Senate actually took up the bill at 1:45 p.m. shortly after they returned from their lunch recess.
The bill passed by a comfortable margin, with 31 votes cast in favor, and 7 votes cast against. At least 27 votes were needed to pass the bill, which amends the Political Reform Act and therefore requires a two-thirds vote. Two senators were absent for the vote. Below is the vote from today's session:
SENATORS VOTING IN FAVOR OF SB 49/KARNETTE:
Dede Alpert (D-Coronado)
Jim Brulte (R - Cucamonga)
John Burton (D-San Francisco)
Chuck Calderon (D-Whittier)
Jim Costa (D-Fresno)
Ralph Dills (D-El Segundo)
Tom Hayden (D-Brentwood)
Teresa Huges (D-Inglewood)
Rob Hurtt (R-Garden Grove)
Maurice Johannessen (R-Redding)
Pat Johnston (D-Stockton)
Betty Karnette (D-Long Beach)
David Kelley (R-Idyllwild)
Quentin Kopp (Ind-San Francisco)
Barbara Lee (D-Oakland)
Tim Leslie (R-Tahoe City)
Bill Lockyer (D-Hayward)
Ken Maddy (R-Fresno)
Bruce McPherson (R-Santa Cruz)
Dick Monteith (R-Modesto)
Jack O'Connell (D-Carpinteria)
Steve Peace (D-El Cajon)
Richard Polanco (D-Los Angeles)
Richard Rainey (R-Walnut Creek)
Herschel Rosenthal (D-N. Hollywood)
Adam Schiff (D-Burbank)
Byron Sher (D-Palo Alto)
Hilda Solis (D-El Monte)
Mike Thomson (D- St. Helena)
John Vasconcellos (D-Santa Clara)
Diane Watson (D-Los Angeles)
SENATORS VOTING IN OPPOSITION TO SB 49/KARNETTE:
Leroy Greene (D-Sacramento)
Ray Haynes (R-Murietta)
Ross Johnson (R-Irvine)
Pete Knight (R-Palmdale)
John Lewis (R-Orange)
Richard Mountjoy (R-Monrovia)
Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley)
SENATORS ABSENT/NOT VOTING:
Ruben Ayala (D-Chino)
Bill Craven (R-Oceanside)
The debate on the senate floor was brief, lasting less than 10 minutes. Senator Karnette opened with a statement about how the system is antiquated, that tens of thousands of reports are filed at each election, resulting in an avalanche of paper that prevents the public from putting the numbers into an understandable perspective. She said electronic filing would bring order to the chaos, and thanked Senators Hayden, McPherson and Kopp for their previous leadership on this issue.
Senator Ross Johnson rose to speak in opposition to SB 49, stating that he wasn't opposed to full disclosure, and that was in fact what we have now. Johnson noted that every Senator has a laptop on their desk, designed and maintained by a full-time professional staff, and yet ten minutes earlier the computer system wasn't working. Johnson also stated that he believes electronic filing will place a burden on candidates and volunteer treasurers, and will force candidates to hire and pay professional treasurers. Johnson also pointed out the criminal provisions contained in Proposition 208, a newly-enacted campaign finance reform initiative, and said that he was concerned about the possibility of volunteer treasurers making unintended errors that could result in felony convictions.
Senator Quentin Kopp spoke in favor of the bill, and noted that SB 49 was the culmination of a couple of years worth of effort. Kopp said he sympathized with Johnson's concerns, but that information technology advancement is inevitable.
Senator Tim Leslie stated that he was supportive of the notion of online access, but was concerned about the mechanics, and asked if it wouldn't be simpler to require the Secretary of State or the FPPC to scan the reports in. Karnette replied that most reports are being done on computer anyway, and that electronic filing would result in faster public access to the data. Leslie argued that not every campaign uses a computer, and that rather than making it harder for hundreds of filers, it would be better to place the burden on just one agency to scan the data in.
Senator Leroy Greene asked whether electronic filing could be viewed as a limitation on freedom of speech, since it meant telling people they had to disclose their information in a particular fashion.
No other senators rose to speak either in favor of or in opposition to the measure.
Senator Karnette closed the debate by saying that online disclosure was an idea whose time has come and asked for an aye vote on the bill. The vote was taken, with the results of 31 - 7, and the bill now heads to the Assembly for consideration.
The California Voter Foundation will be issuing a news release later this afternoon on today's historic vote, which I will email to CVF-NEWS as soon as possible. In addition, Senator Karnette's office is expected to issue a news release, which journalists can obtain by calling Larry Sokol at the Senate Elections Committee, 916-445-2601.
Kim Alexander, Executive Director, California Voter Foundation
cvf@netcom.com
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