Following the money in politics has become much harder since voters approved Proposition 34, the misnamed campaign finance reform measure in November. Two ordinances proposed by the city Ethics Commission would require full and timely disclosures. The retroactive ordinance would require a full report, within two weeks of the effective date of the new law, on how much was spent to communicate with members in support of or against a city candidate for the primary. Recorded telephone calls, like the one with a voice impersonating Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina during the mayoral primary, would be required to carry the name of the committee paying for the call, in the same way that television ads are labeled. Three weeks after the April 10 mayoral primary, voters still do not know who paid for the last-minute bogus phone calls that attacked former Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa and businessman Steve Soboroff.
Millions flow as candidates and their backers sing their praises and slander their opponents.
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