Conflict of Interest

On the Huffington Post:

Is the Times looking out for voters or its own bottom line? That's the question readers should ask if they tear out their newspapers' recommendations to bring to the polls.

The Tribune also owns television stations like KTLA. Prop 89's limit on ballot measure spending would cut significantly into the gravy train of political advertising KTLA is receiving from oil companies that have spent $52 million opposing Prop 87, a tax on oil producers to pay for alternate fuel development (also opposed by the LA Times), and from tobacco companies that have spent $55 million opposing Prop 86, a tobacco tax to fund health care. The main opposition weapon against Prop 87, in fact, is a television commercial airing editorials from newspapers like the Times weighing in against it The public is sick of this avalanche of political advertising and turning away from the polls because of it. Prop 89 may solve that problem, but the interests of Tribune company dictates editorials now, not journalists' less biased decision making. Control over the editorials at the LA Time rests with the publisher, not the news editors, after a recent restructuring.

I'm guessing the Tribune is wishing it could lay-off Huffington Post writers.

Another 8 Figure Day of Money

I think the LA Times deserves a great deal of credit for creating their Mother's Milk feature that allows citizens to easily track the flow of money during the most expensive election ever. Yesterday was another huge day with $10,913,935 moving hands. The year-to-date total is now $435,579,979.

We have them on the run

Robert Salladay of the LA Times political blog has a new post on the most expensive election ever:

And for the irony of the day, Morain snagged an insider email (see photo) from the campaign to defeat Proposition 89, which would put strict contribution limits on candidates and install public financing. Turns out, the opposition (which includes nearly the entire political establishment) hasn't raised enough money.

In this instance, "enough" money refers to the amount necessary to drown out the voices of reform and buy the election. But they are raising plenty of money, including six figure contributions from Chevron, PG&E, Mercury General, Southern California Edison, Occidental Oil and Gas, State Farm, Zenith Insurance, CA business PAC, CA Bankers PAC, and Baron Real Estate.

The letter is signed by Frank Schumbert, whose website boasts, "One of Mr. Schubert’s strengths is the ability to synthesize complicated public policy issues into understandable messages..." Schumbert's view on Proposition 89?

While the Yes side is actively moving forward and will be on the air soon, the No campaign continues to deal with difficult cash flow issues. [...]

To say that this situation is a major concern is an understatement.

Our side will be widely outspent by special interests, which is one of the reasons why we need Proposition 89. They may have big bucks, but the people they have are mercenaries while we have committed volunteers. Join our grassroots campaign, contribute $5 and help Buck the System now.

Most Expensive Election Ever

This get's crazier every week. Mother's Milk says that yesterday $17,275,310 was contributed, bringing the year to date total to $371,897,778.

Most Expensive Election Ever

California's 2006 election will be the most expensive in the history of our state. The ship-load of special interest money dominating the debate have already pushed TV ad rates up 50% and may double rates during the final two weeks of the election.

Every time you see a negative political ad, remember why we need to enact Proposition 89. There is only one item on the ballot that will reform the way the rest of the election is being bought.

The LA Times' Mother's Milk online feature reveals that Friday was another huge day, with $6.4 million in pocket-stuffing bringing the year-to-date total to $362, 224,913.

There are two ways for voters to deal with this year's record-setting negative ads wars. Option one is to buy a Tivo and I wouldn't be surprised if this cycle is a boom for DVR sales in California. The other option is to vote Yes on Proposition 89.

$9,862,001

That is how much the LA Times' Mother's Milk feature says was raised on Tuesday. This brings the year-to-date total to an astonishing $330,231,293.