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For Immediate Release
February, 11 2010, 01:58pm EDT
Contact:
Vaishalee Raja, Communications Director
916-284-9187 vaishalee@eqca.org
Equality California Calls for Impeachment of California Fair Political Practices Commissioner
Commissioner Ronald Rotunda’s recent comments on Proposition 8-related lawsuit pose serious conflict of interest
SACRAMENTO, Calif.
Equality
California will ask the governor and state legislature to begin
impeachment proceedings against Ronald Rotunda, a member of the
California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC), which regulates
campaign finance.
Commissioner Rotunda
recently asserted in a Sacramento Bee opinion piece that enforcing
complete disclosure of personal information from proponents of
Proposition 8, as required under current campaign reporting laws, would
significantly harm supporters of the marriage ban.
Rotunda,
as an FPPC Commissioner, is a defendant in a lawsuit against the
Commission - ProtectMarriage.com v. Bowen, the outcome of which will
determine future campaign finance reporting regulations in California.
In
response to the Commissioner's assertions, Equality California
Government Affairs Director Mario Guerrero testified at a FPPC hearing
today in Sacramento:
"Mr.
Rotunda's attempt to cast supporters of Proposition 8 as victims is
patently absurd, given they backed a measure designed solely to strip
away precious freedoms from a targeted minority group that regularly
endures harassment, discrimination and violence. In fact, there has
been a steady, documented surge in violence against lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender community members across California,
particularly in Santa Clara and Los Angeles.""The
Commission will eventually be asked to determine whether the 'Yes on 8'
committee violated the law in failing to properly report the source of
its campaign contributions and could be required to rule in other
similar scenarios. Commissioner Rotunda admits in his op-ed that the
law requires complete reporting. However, in expressing his opinion
regarding a current case in which Commissioner Rotunda is technically a
defendant, it appears that he has pre-determined that for this
particular defendant, and in this particular case, he will not enforce
the law as written.""We believe Mr. Rotunda should recuse himself from any votes pertaining
to the pending lawsuit as well as Proposition 8-related investigations,
and we will urge the governor and legislature to begin impeachment
proceedings against Mr. Rotunda for dereliction of duty."
Read the full testimony >>
Equality California is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots-based, statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to achieve equality and civil rights for all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Californians.
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