LA Gets Public Financing Proposal
The Los Angeles Ethics Commission's has sent a public financing proposal to the city council and asked them to consider adopting it for municipal elections, and encouraging the Council to get further community feedback on the idea by distributing the proposals to neighborhood councils. Bill Boyarsky, the Commission's vice president said of the proposal, "It takes campaign financing to a great extent and puts it in the hands of the public [. . .] instead of businesses and labor unions who run City Hall." The proposal recommendations stipulate that candidates for city council would be obligated to raise $25,000 from city residents in donations no larger than $250, candidates for city attorney and comptroller would have to raise $75,000, and mayoral candidates would have to raise $150,000 - citywide races would have a $500 contribution limit to qualify for public financing.