Advisory - Huizar to Host Timely Forum on Campaign Finance Reform

MEDIA ADVISORY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Rick Coca 213.473.5807, 213.200.9974 (cell) rick.coca@lacity.org Huizar to Host Timely Forum on Campaign Finance Reform A-list panel to discuss possible changes in City's Public Campaign Finance laws Thursday in light of recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling lifting restrictions on corporate and union donations to candidates LOS ANGELES (March 3, 2010) - Councilmember José Huizar will moderate a Campaign Finance Reform forum Thursday in City Council Chambers featuring some of the nation's leading campaign, political and election reform experts. The panel, which includes Kathay Feng, Executive Director, California Common Cause; Robert Stern, President, Center For Governmental Studies and Ron Kaye, former editor of the Los Angeles Daily News, will discuss whether Los Angeles should change its campaign finance reform laws, especially in light of a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that lifted a ban on corporate and union donations to individual candidates. WHO: Councilmember José Huizar Kathay Feng; Robert Stern; Ron Kaye; Xandra Kayden, League of Women Voters; Trent Lang, California Clean Money Campaign; LeeAnn Pelham, Exec. Dir. L.A. City Ethics Commission; Jim Sutton, Attorney and noted Election Law Expert. WHAT: "Campaign Finance Reform: Where to Now?' WHEN: Thursday, March 4, 2010 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. (Councilman Huizar will be available for interviews at 7:30 a.m.) WHERE: Los Angeles City Hall-Council Chambers (3rd Floor) @ 200 N. Spring St. Los Angeles, 90012 WHY: Experts predicted the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the case of Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission will change the way campaigns are financed and now we have the proof. Just last month, the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission announced a ban has been lifted on the use of corporation and labor treasury funds for express advocacy in our elections. There are two video welcomes by Councilmember Huizar regarding the Campaign Finance Forum. English Video Spanish Video