Tuesday, August 07, 2012

California Prop 32

Started doing some research and decided to start keeping a log of what I find on California Prop 32. As a proud union member of IATSE local 504, I am against Prop 32 and against California becoming the next Wisconsin.

The first bits of info I found on the prop also known as the "paycheck protection act" is on the author Ashlee Titus. Here's a copy/paste of her LinkedIn account

Ashlee Titus
Associate Attorney Bell McAndrews & Hiltachk LLP September 2004 – Present (8 years)

Ashlee Titus maintains a nationwide practice advising corporations, candidates, political action committees (PACs), major campaign donors, lobbyists, trade associations, and state and local ballot measure committees in the areas of political and election law.




and here's a bit on Tom Hiltachk the co-author from his wikipedia page.

According to Hiltachk's law firm biography, "He has represented state ballot measure committees on a variety of issues, including tax policy, the environment, education, civil and criminal justice reform and gaming. He has served as legal counsel to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Mr. Hiltachk specializes in drafting complex tax and constitutional measures and counsels on qualification efforts for ballot measure campaigns as well as all aspects of election campaigning related to such measures. He litigates ballot and ballot pamphlet language issues."

Both profiles show that the author and co-sponsor are republicans. No big deal there, but remember that republicans favor corporations over government. The bill claims to be a fix to stopping corporations and unions from using collected dues as political donations.

Now stop me if I'm wrong, but I think if that were the case, these two authors would be in a lot of trouble with their clients. Now who are their clients?

BM&H LLC has also "fronted" for:

Californians for Schwarzenegger, "a committee formed to promote the election of Governor Schwarzenegger during the recall election of 2003." [9]

Chico Greenline Coalition [10][11][12] at the Sacramento address, with Thomas W. Hiltachk as Treasurer. [13]

Citizens Against Measure R, a California group "sponsored by and with Major Funding provided by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc."... 2005.

Note: The LA Voice reported September 7, 2006, that "Judge Robert H. O'Brien ordered that Measure R - the term limits extension/ethics revision package - be removed from the November ballot because it improperly combines multiple subjects in a single question." Charles H. Bell Jr. "called the judge's decision a win for voters."

Californians For A Fair Business Policy, a "Tobacco Institute-created front group in California" at BM&H's Santa Monica address fought "local efforts to enact smoke-free bans in California in the early 1990s" and "Conducted referenda on existing bans." [15]

Employees of Northrop Grumman PAC, using BM&H's Santa Monica address, contributed to Sen. Bill McCollum's Florida campaign in 2000. [16]

First Federal Bank of California PAC, which received termination approval in January 2006, received two contributions in 2003 and 2004 at BM&H's Santa Monica address. [17]

Global Crossing Development Corporation PAC used the Santa Monica address 1997 through 2005 to make contributions, including $10,000 in 2001 to George W. Bush's "President's Dinner Committee" and a number of current and former political candidates, including George Allen, John Ashcroft, Sherrod Brown, Sam Brownback, Conrad Burns, Eric Cantor, Maria Cantwell, Max Cleland, Tom Davis, Harold Ford, Jr., Chuck Grassley, Judd Gregg, Dennis Hastert, Daniel Inouye, Rick Lazio, Carl Levin, Bill Luther, John McCain, Zell Miller, Jim Nussle, Charles W. Pickering, Jack Reed, Tom Reynolds, Jay Rockefeller, Chuck Schumer, Louise Slaughter, Billy Tauzin, Henry A. Waxman, and Heather Wilson.




The only thing listed here that looks like a good deed is the Chico Greenline Coalition, but a little more digging even makes that one look shady. I found a blog from someone who had done research into the group before. Here's the link.

And a name that keeps coming up as well isThe Lincoln Club. The Lincoln Club is currently raising a lot of money in favor of Prop 32.

Well there's what I have so far. Feel free to add comments, or send me info that I should look into.

Thanks and Please vote No on Prop 32.