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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 19, 1998 |
CONTACT: John Sullivan PHONE: (916) 443-4900
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Of these contributions, Assembly incumbents and candidates who will appear on the November ballot received more than $1.4 million and Senate incumbents and candidates received slightly more than $1 million. John Sullivan, President of the Civil Justice Association of California, predicts that trial lawyer propensity for big last minute contributions will push this years total dollars to California legislative candidates at least a million dollars past the $3 million mark set in the 1996 elections.
Of the trial lawyer contributions to legislative candidates, the majority--$2,366,000 went to Democratic candidates, while Republican's received $134,000.
"The contribution reports from the Secretary of State's office tell an incredible story of targeted giving by a special interest group that wants a Legislature that will pass the personal injury trial lawyers wish list," said Sullivan.
In addition to legislative candidate contributions, trial lawyers have poured more than $3.6 million into statewide candidate races, bringing total candidate contributions to an amazing $6.5 million. (Trial lawyers gave $370,000 to candidates who did not survive the June primary election.)
"While political contributions are a legitimate part of our freedom to communicate and select our representatives in government, the public should know when narrow interests are running a massive program to elect people they hope will look out for them in Sacramento," Sullivan said.
Total Trial Lawyer Legislative Contributions through September 30, by Region 97-98 (Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view these files.):
