Big Money Talks - California’s Billion Dollar Club

Special interests spend staggering amounts of money on candidates, ballot measures and lobbying to influence the outcome of governmental decisions in California.

The reality in politics is that money talks. Sometimes money shouts. If it didn’t, spe- cial interests simply would not spend so much money trying to influence public policy and elections. They know that the more money they spend on behalf of a candidate or in support of or opposition to a ballot measure, the greater the chance of success. In California, special interests have very deep pockets.

This report, “Big Money Talks,” examines California’s Top 15 spending special interest groups over the last ten years. Their combined expenditures totaled more than $1 billion.

Of the 15 identified groups, six are corporations, three are Indian tribes, two are labor unions and four are business associations.

This report leaves little doubt where the vortex of political power lies in this state. The numbers tell the story. And there is no end in sight to the spending binge by special interests.

California’s Top 15 special interest groups often win by spending money to defeat ballot measures – which has the effect of maintaining the status quo.

The 15 That Spent $1 Billion

1. California Teachers Association
2. California State Council of Service Employees
3. Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America
4. Morongo Band of Mission Indians
5. Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians
6. Pacific Gas & Electric Company
7. Chevron Corporation
8. AT&T Inc.
9. Philip Morris USA Inc.
10. Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
11. Southern California Edison
12. California Hospital Association
13. California Chamber of Commerce
14. Western States Petroleum Association
15. Aera Energy LLC

Click the link below to download the report in PDF format.