Government
Jul. 23, 2002
Court Rejects Pasadena Campaign Finance Law
LOS ANGELES - As the saying goes, money talks - and, a Los Angeles Superior Court Judge has ruled, it should be allowed to exercise its right to free speech.
Ruling on a campaign finance law that Pasadena passed in 2001 but never fully implemented, Judge Michael Byrne found that Measure B's restriction on when public officials can take contributions from city contractors was overbroad.
Measure B, or the "Taxpayer Protection Amendment," banned public officials from taking any campaign contributions or gifts from people who get contracts to do work for the city - while the officials hold office and for a period of time after they leave.
Byrne decided that banning all campaign contributions, as opposed to just limiting the amount of contributions, was unconstitutional.
Pasadena, which had been finishing its preparations to implement the new law, has put the plans on hold.
In May, Byrne ordered Pasadena to record the new law with the secretary of state's office, after a Pasadena resident sued the city for not doing so. The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights joined in that lawsuit.
But Pasadena turned around and sued the foundation over the measure on constitutional grounds.
Frederic Woocher, counsel for the foundation, said the organization would appeal the judge's decision.
Santa Monica and Claremont have laws substantially similar to Pasadena's Measure B.
Katherine Gaidos
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