California’s Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) is working on several bills to increase transparency and ethics in politics this year. FPPC Chair Adam Silver emphasized the importance of public trust and aims to address issues such as campaign contributions in public buildings and the disclosure of cryptocurrency assets by elected officials. Silver also highlighted the rise of behested payments, where lawmakers direct donations to charities on their behalf, as a concern for potential influence in politics.
Data from the FPPC shows a significant increase in behested payments, prompting calls for more transparency and accountability. Some advocates believe these payments are used to curry political favor and influence decisions by lawmakers. While state law requires reporting of these payments, there are calls for more streamlined reporting processes and lower reporting thresholds to enhance transparency.
The FPPC is supporting Assembly Bill 775 to require quarterly reporting of behested payments and improve electronic filing. This move is seen as a step towards greater transparency, but advocates like Common Cause California believe more measures may be needed to ensure accountability in political transactions. Overall, the aim is to provide the public and the press with clearer information on who is seeking to influence elected officials and how they may benefit from these transactions.
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