Calif. Regulator Sues Ariz. Nonprofit to Reveal Donors
October 26, 2012 | Read Time: 1 minute
A California campaign watchdog agency filed suit Thursday seeking to compel a nonprofit group to reveal the sources of $11-million it gave to an organization battling ballot initiatives on taxes and labor politicking, according to The Sacramento Bee and the Los Angeles Times.
A judge scheduled a hearing for Tuesday on the Fair Political Practices Commission’s claim against Arizona-based Americans for Responsible Leadership. The commission asked for an expedited ruling to make the donor information available to voters before the Nov. 6 election.
The suit stems from the Arizona group’s contribution to a California business coalition that is campaigning against a ballot measure to raise taxes and for one to curb unions’ political clout. The commission contends the donation falls under state rules that require nonprofits to reveal the sources of money earmarked for particular political causes.
An attorney for Americans for Responsible Leadership said the organization “did not and has never solicited earmarked contributions for any particular project for which it decides to spend money.”
According to The Huffington Post, the Arizona group is represented by a Virginia law firm that also represents political action committees backed by Republican strategist Karl Rove and billionaire philanthropists and the conservative Koch brothers.
