Arm-Twisting Over an Initiative

An organization trying to place an initiative on the November ballot has used some interesting tactics to seek campaign funds.

Californians Against Waste seeks to include liquor and wine bottles on the list of acceptable recyclable materials. The measure would also allow subsidies for waste haulers and local governments.

In a letter, the group is asking for contributions from garbage companies with this not-so-subtle prod: “Please let us know if we can count on your support. If we cannot, please let us know that as well, so we can inform our local government allies that you will not be with us--and them--in this fight.”

For the garbage companies and waste haulers that count on local contracts, the implication is clear. The letter even fixes the contribution expected of each firm.

Political watchdogs say that there’s not much to be done about this kind of arm-twisting. But that does not change the sense of this scheme as a thinly veiled political shakedown to extract election-year dollars from potential donors. Sure, the backers of this would-be initiative say their practices comply with the letter of the law. That still doesn’t make it defensible on ethical grounds.

Yes, we understand that financing signature drives to qualify an initiative for the ballot is an expensive proposition in California. That task is made all the more difficult this year because of the heavy demand for funds. The secretary of state reports there are 33 initiatives circulating.

But should that financial reality allow even a mild form of coercion to become the norm in soliciting contributions? We don’t want to sound naive about this. We know that politics is a tough game under any guise, but we would still urge the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission to take a hard look at such tactics.

Also, the public needs to be more aware of the early stages of the initiative process. Perhaps some of the money that fuels these campaigns is not as avidly or freely donated as one would think. That’s something to think about if this measure ever reaches the ballot.