Watchdog raises donation limits for state candidates

Saturday December 14, 2002

SACRAMENTO (AP) California's politicians got an early Christmas present from the state's elections watchdog: Limits on the size of campaign contributions to state candidates will increase Jan 1.

The Fair Political Practices Commission on Friday approved cost-of-living adjustments for donations to candidates running for offices ranging from governor to state legislator.

Most donors will be able to give up to $21,200 per election to gubernatorial candidates instead of the current maximum of $20,000.

For other statewide offices, the maximum donation will be $5,300 per election from most contributors instead of $5,000, and legislative candidates will be able to accept up to $3,200 from most donors per election instead of the current $3,000.

A small contributor committee, a group of at least 100 people who chip in no more than $200 a year, will be able to give up to $10,600 per election to a candidate running for lieutenant governor, attorney general or another down-ticket statewide office. Currently the cap is $10,000.

Small contributor committees will be able to give up to $6,400 to legislative candidates instead of the current $6,000.

Proposition 34, the contribution limit plan approved by voters in 2000, requires the FPPC to adjust the limits every odd-numbered year to reflect inflation.

Proposition 34 doesn't limit the size of donations that political parties can make to candidates, but it does put a $25,000-a-year cap on donations to parties to directly aid candidates. That limit will jump to $26,600 next year.

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On the Net: http://www.fppc.ca.gov

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)