CAMPAIGN REFORM PASSES COUNCIL PUTS LIMITS ON LOBBYISTS' INFLUENCE.Byline: Harrison Sheppard Staff Writer Hoping to restore the public's faith in city government, the City Council on Tuesday approved portions of a campaign finance reform Campaign finance reform is the common term for the political effort in the United States to change the involvement of money in politics, primarily in political campaigns. package designed to limit the influence of lobbyists on local officials. The package calls for council members to recuse To disqualify or remove oneself as a judge over a particular proceeding because of one's conflict of interest. Recusal, or the judge's act of disqualifying himself or herself from presiding over a proceeding, is based on the Maxim themselves if a lobbyist involved with an issue had contributed $7,000 to any political committees the official controls, raised $10,000 from others for the official or served as a paid consultant for their campaign. ``We are saying to the public that lobbyists do not have greater influence than our constituents or anyone else,'' said Councilwoman Wendy Greuel Wendy Greuel is President Pro Tempore of the Los Angeles City Council representing the 2nd District. Greuel was elected in 2002 to fill the remainder of the term of Councilman Joel Wachs. She was elected in her own right in 2003 and reelected in 2007. , who supported the plan but also sought stronger restrictions. But the plan approved on a 12-0 vote rejected a provision that would require recusal recusal n. the act of a judge or prosecutor being removed or voluntarily stepping aside from a legal case due to conflict of interest or other good reason. (See: recuse) if a lobbyist has given at least $20,000 to a nonprofit organization Nonprofit Organization An association that is given tax-free status. Donations to a non-profit organization are often tax deductible as well. Notes: Examples of non-profit organizations are charities, hospitals and schools. on their behalf, and another that would extend the definition of committees to include ballot measures spearheaded by an elected official. Those elements will be studied for an additional 30 days. The vote came after about a dozen city residents, mostly from the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. , urged the council to pass the plan to restore the public's faith in city government. ``This will go a long way to taking away the appearance of being unduly influenced,'' said Michael Cohen of Reseda, who ran for a Valley city council seat during the secession campaign last year. ``We can't have the rich and the large corporations being able to give money so the politicians appear to be beholden be·hold·en adj. Owing something, such as gratitude, to another; indebted. [Middle English biholden, past participle of biholden, to observe; see behold. to them. ``We need to have the public's confidence in you, the City Council, and other elected officials.'' But Councilwoman Ruth Galanter said the new disclosure requirement would force council members to pay closer attention to who gave them what. ``I have no idea how much this one raised versus how much that one raised,'' Galanter said. ``I don't think that should be what's on my mind if somebody walks in to discuss an issue with me.'' Ethics Commission executive director LeeAnn Pelham Noun 1. Pelham - a bit with a bar mouthpiece that is designed to combine a curb and snaffle bit - piece of metal held in horse's mouth by reins and used to control the horse while riding; "the horse was not accustomed to a bit" said that while the commission didn't get everything it was seeking, it was nonetheless pleased with the vote. ``The thrust of what we're trying to do is try to promote access to elected officials without regard to contributions or fund raising, and to free the policy-makers so their decisions can be made on the merits on the merits adj. referring to a judgment, decision or ruling of a court based upon the facts presented in evidence and the law applied to that evidence. A judge decides a case "on the merits" when he/she bases the decision on the fundamental issues and considers ,'' Pelham said. ``Today's action moves us in that direction.'' The new rules would go into effect after the city election this year, but in time for fund raising for the 2005 city election. Recusal, however, does not necessarily mean a council member must abstain from voting on an issue, according to Pelham. It can also mean refusing to be lobbied on a particular issue - i.e., meet with or listen to a lobbyist - but still voting on it. The intent of the ordinance, she said, is to prevent lobbyists from having special access to elected officials that the public doesn't normally get, not preventing those officials from voting on issues. Some council members objected to provisions that apply to fund raising for nonprofit organizations on behalf of an elected official because they felt the limits would hurt local charities that use elected officials to help them raise funds. |
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